World Cup 2026: Lionel Messi’s tears of relief after Argentina comeback

If Argentina had lost, would Messi have been lost forever at the World Cup?

He would be 43 (the oldest outfield player to play in the World Cup) if he went on to the next one, but the lure of home games may have kept him going.

Instead, Messi can look forward to playing in the quarter-finals here against Switzerland or Colombia.

Watching BBC Radio 5 Live in Atlanta, former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson said: “It was incredible. It was amazing. Argentina were behind and out. At one point they were out of the tournament.”

“Egypt are very angry about the refereeing decisions made against them. Their second goal was disallowed before they scored their second goal for an infringement that almost happened on their own touchline.

“Then Lionel Messi stepped in and took over. Nice assist, great strike on goal and then the substitutions worked for Argentina.”

Argentina’s recovery (it must be said that it was not just Messi’s display) also had implications for England, who believe it is a now or never moment to reach their first men’s World Cup final since 1966 under Egypt’s leadership.

England’s path to the final was shaped by Norway in the quarter-finals, followed by Egypt, Switzerland or Colombia in the last four if they advanced.

Instead, it leaves Messi and Argentina in the shadows as potential obstacles should they beat the dangerous Norwegians.

And even in the following years, Messi casts a huge shadow over his opponents, as Egypt paid the price for.

Messi became the first player in World Cup history to score in six consecutive knockout stage matches and now has eight goals in that match. This was the most points achieved by a player in the first five games since West German Gerd Müller scored 10 goals in Mexico in 1970.

He has also contributed to 16 goals in the last nine World Cup matches, with 13 goals and 3 assists.

The worry for England is that it still has the power to add more. And he seems in the mood to do it.