Lionel Messi emotional after Argentina’s comeback win over Egypt
Lionel Messi admitted he was overcome with emotion after Argentina’s astonishing World Cup comeback against Egypt, revealing his missed penalty left him feeling “really frustrated” despite securing victory, reports BritPanorama.
The defending champions appeared on the brink of elimination after trailing 2-0, but mounted one of the greatest fightbacks in World Cup history, scoring three times in the final stages to secure a spot in the quarter-finals.
Cristian Romero started the recovery before Messi levelled the contest, with Argentina completing the turnaround before extra time was necessary. The Inter Miami star was visibly emotional at the final whistle, breaking down in tears after yet another unforgettable night in an Argentina shirt.
Messi later explained that his tears were not solely due to relief. He could not shake the frustration of his first-half penalty miss, which he felt made the match more challenging for his team. “I was really frustrated with everything that happened in the match today, especially after missing that penalty,” he said. “If I had scored, it would have changed the dynamic of the game. We were actually playing well, despite the goal we conceded.”
The missed spot-kick marked a significant milestone for Messi, as he became the first player to miss two penalties in World Cup history. This latest miss brought his career total to 150 penalties, with 34 missed, resulting in a conversion rate of approximately 77 percent. Notably, during the tournament, Messi has now missed half of the penalties he has taken in World Cup matches.
Earlier in the tournament, he also missed a penalty in Argentina’s group-stage victory over Austria, although he did score twice in that match. Against Egypt, goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir dove to his left to save Messi’s attempt, a pivotal moment that appeared to overshadow Argentina’s efforts until late in the game.
Reflecting on the dramatic comeback, Messi praised his teammates for their determination. “This group deserved to keep going, deserved to keep fighting and trying,” he commented. He highlighted the significance of Romero’s goal as a turning point: “We managed to get that goal from Cuti, and I think that’s when everyone felt it deep down; we believed we could pull it off. Things looked grim at 2-0, but we managed to turn the match around.” Messi’s goal raised his tournament tally to eight and extended his overall World Cup scoring record to 21 goals.
Argentina’s next challenge comes against Switzerland on Sunday morning, as they seek to maintain their momentum in the tournament and build on this dramatic triumph.
In moments like these, football ceases to be merely a game; it becomes a stage for resilience, a testament to the human spirit, and an illustration of how the underdogs can occasionally rewrite the script when it matters most.
