​With 12 minutes of normal time remaining, Egypt stood on the brink of their greatest World Cup achievement. The Pharaohs were ahead of Argentina, the reigning world champions, 2-0 at Atlanta Stadium, and a first-ever quarter-final berth appeared within reach for this football-mad African nation. But the scenario swiftly toppled into disaster. It started with Cristian Romero pulling one back in the 79th minute, and suddenly Egypt looked stressed, even panicked, as Lionel Messi—as ever—found the net four minutes later to level the score at 2-2.
Enzo Fernandez then delivered a stunning finish with a header in stoppage time, seconds into the added period, sealing a remarkable comeback for Argentina. Egypt’s hopes collapsed as the video assistant referee disallowed a second Egyptian goal by Mostafa Zico for a foul on Lisandro Martinez at the start of the move, after Marwan Attia had merely stepped on Martinez’s foot. The Egyptians also believed Mohamed Salah had been fouled inside Argentina’s box just before the break for the counter that ended with Argentina’s winner.
When referee Francois Letexier blew the whistle for full time, a wave of disbelief washed over the Egyptian players as they sank to the turf. In a heated post-match interview, Egypt’s coach Hossam Hassan insisted his side had been “treated unfairly” and that they had suffered “injustice.” BBC Sport has sought comment from FIFA. “There have been a lot of questions raised on and off the pitch,” Hassan stated. “Negative aspects all around. It’s simply a question of credibility and how things unfolded. There seems to be a sense of legitimacy missing.” He also suggested outside pressures might have influenced the outcome: “Perhaps they wanted to keep the world champions in the competition. Perhaps they wanted Messi to stay in the running.” The insinuation implied support for Argentina permeated every level, he added, with the champions seemingly backed by hidden influences that affected the result.
The match delivered drama in abundance: a crucial penalty saved, a disallowed goal, a red card, and a stunning late comeback before Argentina sealed the win. BBC Sport revisits a game that will endure in World Cup folklore for its improbable arc—one where a team trailed by two goals so late in the proceedings but still managed to win without extra time. Argentina’s extraordinary late surge completed a comeback that will be remembered as one of the defining moments in World Cup history.
In the lead-up to this global confrontation, Egypt had warned that they needed to refine their World Cup image. “We must perform with greater authority on the world stage,” head coach Hassan had cautioned on the eve of the tournament, referencing their dismal World Cup record. Arriving in North America as underachievers—yet with a first group-stage win in Vancouver against New Zealand on June 22—Egypt had initially taken the lead via Yasser Ibrahim’s 15th-minute header against the three-time champions. The game also featured a standout moment from goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir, who produced a superb save to deny Messi from the spot, preserving Egypt’s early lead even as the tie grew tense.