Argentina let it go 2-0, then came back to chase it to 3! On Messi’s night of legend, Enzo scored the 3000th World Cup goal

On July 7 in Atlanta, during the Round of 16 match between Argentina and Egypt, it was destined to be written into World Cup history.

The flow of this match was more bizarre than any script. In the 15th minute, Egypt’s Ibrahim headed in to score, netting the first goal in the history of their encounters against Argentina. Five minutes later, Tagliafico burst into the box, was brought down, and Argentina were awarded a penalty—Messi took it, but it was saved. At halftime, the defending champions were trailing 0-1.

Things were even worse in the second half. In the 67th minute, Egypt played a quick counterattack, and Ziko’s shot found the net to make it 2-0. Argentina were standing on the edge of a cliff.

Then, the miracle began. In the 79th minute, Messi assisted Romero, who scored with a header. Four minutes later, Messi volleyed home in the middle of a goalmouth scramble to level the score. In the second minute of stoppage time, Lautaro crossed from the right, and Enzo Fernández scored the winning header to seal it.

3-2! Argentina pulled off a comeback from 2-0 down—chasing it to three!

After the match, the 39-year-old Messi shed rare tears. He said, “We are a very competitive team—a team that always gives everything it has, never admits defeat, and never gives up. That’s why it won everything it once had.” He also said, “We’ve risen from the brink again.”

Enzo spoke with excitement after the match: “This is the most precious goal of my professional career. We were once on the verge of being eliminated, but everyone fought with all their might to come back. Argentina never says die. Our only goal for coming here is to defend the title!”

This goal was also the 3000th in World Cup history. From the first goal in 1930 to the 3000th in 2026, it took 96 years. Enzo wrote his name into World Cup history.

After this match, Messi set a whole bunch of records: 21 total World Cup goals, the most in history; the first player to score in nine consecutive World Cup matches; and 31 appearances, continuing to lead the World Cup appearances chart. On the top scorers list, Messi leads with 8 goals.

But Argentina’s warning signs are also obvious—their defense is too poor. In the last two knockout matches, they’ve won in a do-or-die style, but their back line keeps inexplicably conceding goals. When facing teams of the caliber of France or Spain, can they still play like this?

#世界杯冠军预测