Egypt Denied Historic Win as Argentina Stages Late Comeback Amid VAR Controversy
Argentina rallied from 2-0 down to defeat Egypt 3-2 in a controversial World Cup Round of 16 match, with Egypt's early goal disallowed by VAR. Lionel Messi was seen in tears after the win.
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Egypt’s historic World Cup run ended in heartbreak as Argentina staged a dramatic 3-2 comeback in the Round of 16, following a controversial VAR decision that overturned Egypt’s opening goal, according to Legit.ng.
Pharaohs forward Mostafa Zico had his first-half goal ruled out after VAR review detected a foul on Argentina’s Lisandro Martinez earlier in the play, a decision that sparked outrage from Egyptian officials. Egyptian Football Association vice president Hassan described the outcome as a case of Egypt being ‘cheated,’ citing the disallowed goal as a pivotal moment, per Vanguard News.
Trailing 2-0, Argentina mounted a late resurgence to win 3-2, securing a place in the quarter-finals. Lionel Messi, visibly emotional after the final whistle, was seen shedding tears, marking another defining moment in his World Cup career, BBC Sport reported. Messi reflected on the win as a testament to the team’s resilience, according to Legit.ng.
The match, played on July 7, 2026, drew widespread scrutiny over the timing and application of the VAR intervention. Egypt had been moments from their first-ever quarter-final appearance before the reversal.
Argentina will face the winner of the Portugal vs. Morocco clash in the next round.