Lionel Messi says his emotional reaction to Argentina’s dramatic comeback victory over Egypt was part ‘relief’ and part ‘frustration’ after his missed penalty in the game.
The holders had looked to be crashing out of World Cup at the last-16 stage as Mostafa Zico finished off a stunning counter-attack to double Egypt’s lead in the 67th minute following Yasser Ibrahim’s opener.
Messi earlier had a golden chance to cancel out Ibrahim’s 15th-minute header after Nicolas Tagliafico was fouled by Haissem Hassa inside the box, but the iconic forward’s effort was comfortably saved by Mostafa Shobeir.
It took Messi’s wretched penalty record at World Cups to four misses from eight attempts – and the horror was written all over his face as the potential ramifications sunk in.
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But the 2022 champions picked themselves up off the floor to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat as Cristian Romero pulled one back with his head, before Messi and Enzo Fernandez also netted in a pulsating 13-minute fightback at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The whole of Argentina will have been holding their collective breath as Lionel Scaloni’s men clung on to secure their spot in the quarter-finals, where they will lock horns with the winner of Switzerland’s last-16 contest with Colombia.
‘We suffered a lot again,’ Messi said in the mixed zone after the game, with Argentina also having survived an almighty scare in their previous clash against Cape Verde.
‘But this is the World Cup and all the matches are very close, so I’m very happy.’
Messi was pictured in floods of tears as he enjoyed the moment with his team-mates, who proceeded to fling him in the air in jubilant celebration.
Explaining his teary reaction to the unforgettable match, Messi said: ‘It was a relief for everyone.
‘It’s not easy to come back from 2-0 down, but this group never gives up; they fight until the very end.
‘We were lucky to get Cuti’s [Romero] goal early on, we were able to turn it around and we won in 90 minutes.
‘What this group did today is incredible and I’m so happy that people can continue to enjoy what we do.’
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Despite the incredible late turnaround, Messi was left kicking himself after fluffing his spot-kick in the 21st minute.
‘I was really frustrated about the penalty, for missing it and taking it badly,’ he added.
‘If I had scored that penalty, it would have changed the game.
‘We had clear chances and the goalkeeper made some incredible saves. It’s very special to help this group after what had happened internally.’
Scaloni was similarly emotional in the aftermath of Argentina’s fightback victory, later joking about how his players had nicknamed him ‘the cry baby’ in the dressing room.
‘I always get emotional,’ he said.
‘Sometimes the tears come out. The tears came in the dressing room too. The boys even call me “the cry baby”, but I don’t care.
‘For all of us who played soccer for 20 years, to feel what we felt today again is incredible.
‘I think most coaches who played soccer become coaches because of days like this, because of those emotions, that adrenaline.’
Messi’s 83rd-minute strike took his goalscoring tally to eight at this summer’s tournament, moving him one clear of France’s Kylian Mbappe and Norway’s Erling Haaland.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner now has 21 goals in 31 appearances in his six World Cups, two more than Mbappe, who has netted 19 times in 19 games.
Argentina will continue their title defence at 2am BST on Sunday versus either Switzerland or Colombia at Kansas’ Arrowhead Stadium.
If they progress from their quarter-final, Messi and Co would face off against one of England or Norway in the final four.
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