Argentina 3-2 Egypt: Messi leads historic World Cup comeback from 2-0 down

Per OptaStats, no team in World Cup history had rallied from a two-goal deficit in the 75th minute or later to secure a win in regulation — a first-of-its-kind comeback .

Records Messi Extended

• Most career World Cup goals (all time) — Messi scored his 21st career World Cup goal against Egypt, extending his own record as the top scorer in World Cup history (men's or women's) .
• Scored in 9 consecutive World Cup matches — dating back to Argentina's 2022 title run, Messi has now scored in nine successive World Cup appearances, a streak not seen since the 1930s .
• 8 goals in a single World Cup tournament (so far) — equalling a record for the most goals by an Argentine player in one edition, a mark that had stood since 1930 .
• First player to reach 20+ career World Cup goals — he crossed that milestone earlier in the tournament against Cape Verde .

Messi also missed his fourth penalty at a World Cup, extending his own record for most missed spot kicks in tournament history, but more than made up for it with his late equalizer .

Updated Golden Boot Standings (after Round of 16)

As of July 7–8, 2026, the leading scorers are tightly bunched. Multiple sources report the following leaders:

Note: Exact totals shift daily as knockout games conclude. The Independent reported Messi, Mbappé, and Haaland all on 7 goals after the R16, with Mbappé ahead on the assists tiebreaker .

Argentina's Quarterfinal Prospects

• Opponent: Colombia — ranked No. 11 in the world, with a 2W-1D-0L record so far .
• Date & Venue: July 11 in Kansas City .
• Tournament odds (as of July 3–7): Argentina is the +450 third choice to win the World Cup, behind France (+180 favorites) and Spain, per Vegas Insider and FanDuel . CBS Sports noted Argentina was -800 to advance past Egypt, and their odds shortened after the comeback .
• Path to the final: If Argentina beats Colombia, they would face the winner of the Brazil–Germany quarterfinal in the semifinals .

Argentina have survived two consecutive knockout scares (Cape Verde 3–2 in extra time, then Egypt 3–2), but Messi's form — now on a historic scoring streak — keeps them among the top contenders. Argentina's odds to win the title shortened to +390 after the comeback, per Fox Sports .