Incredible.
With just 12 minutes remaining, Egypt were leading 2-0, but defending champions Argentina fought back to win 3-2.
Unbelievable.
Who would have thought it?
The South Americans simply would not give up their crown, no matter what Egypt did in this Round of 16 in the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday.
And what Egypt did was plenty.
In minute 14, defender Yasser Ibrahim stunned Atlanta and all those blue and white shirts.
It was a short corner routine followed by a header from Ibrahim at the far post, rising highest to outduel Lisandro Martinez.
It was a great start for Egypt but tests were coming soon.
Four minutes later, a penalty was awarded to Argentina after Haissem Hassan brought down Nicolas Tagliafico, giving Argentina a chance to score an instant equaliser.
But Lionel Messi, of all people, missed. Mustafa Shobeir read it and dived to his left-hand side.
There was nobody in or outside Mercedes-Benz Stadium who expected Messi to miss but credit Shobeir for guessing right.
The keeper continued with his heroics. Having already saved a Messi penalty, his brilliant reaction on 29 denied Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister who powered a header at goal from Nahuel Molina’s superb cross from the right.
With three minutes left in the half, Argentina thought they had levelled when Julian Alvarez struck well, hard and low, but Shobeir came from nowhere to get a hand to it to keep the ball out.
Alvarez was virtually turning away in celebration when Egypt’s keeper dived to his left to stick out a hand to make a magnificent save.
Alvarez joined Messi in holding their heads in disbelief at what Shobeir had just done.
At the restart, a goal by Egypt striker Mustafa Ziko in the 58th minute was disallowed by a VAR review when Marwan Attia was shown to be standing on the foot of Lisandro Martinez.
But eight minutes later, Ziko would not be denied again. Mohamed Salah led the charge and played it wide right to the impressive Hassan. He squared the ball into the middle and an unmarked Ziko sweeps the ball into the net, absolutely smashing it past Emi Martinez.
One of the biggest upsets, not just in this World Cup but of all-time, was on.
Argentina were now in huge, huge trouble, the holders down 2-0.
But then the comeback began.
With just 12 minutes left, Messi slung the ball into the box from the right and Tottenham defender Cristian Romero was free to power the header at goal. Shobeir was finally beaten and Argentina was given a lifeline after some very sloppy defending.
Egypt tried valiantly to cling on to their one goal lead, but Messi was having none of that. In the 84th minute, Argentina had tied it at 2-2.
Lautaro Martinez was involved in the build-up. The ball bounced off substitute Gonzalo Montiel into Messi’s path. He struck at the goal first time. Shobeir got his hands to the ball but could only push it up, with it going in off the underside of the crossbar.
By this time, extra time seemed plausible but La Albiceleste were not interested.
In 90+3 mins, Salah thought he had a penalty at one end for Egypt but Argentina sprung down the other end. Martinez crossed from the right and Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez was there at the back post to superbly cushion a header past Shobeir.
And that was that.
Egypt started losing their heads as Hamdi Fathi, Shobeir and head coach Hossam Hassan all talked themselves into bookings.
Surely, though, they had a legitimate complaint.
Like so many others on social media, Egyptian TV and podcasts, Egyptians were left fuming that French referee François Letexier did not give Egypt a certain penalty when Salah went down in the box in the build-up to the final goal.
After the game, coach Hassan was enraged.
“We looked better compared to the reigning champions. We were better in everything, but the result,” he said.
Hassan said he would not watch any further games at this year’s World Cup, believing his team should have had a penalty before Argentina broke away for the winning goal.
“I’m not convinced with this outcome. I’m not convinced with the way things unfolded during this match,” he said. “I do not want to try to put it nicely here with beautiful wording, selected wording, and saying hard luck and so on and so forth.
“We have been treated unfairly today,” Hassan said. “We have suffered an injustice.”
Some commentators believe that FIFA was loathe to having Egypt win after Hassan more than once brought up the plight of the Palestinian people and raised the Palestinian flag in Dallas after the game with Australia, a contentious, daring act in the US.
Still, as devastated and maybe as disenfranchised as Egypt were, they have nothing to be ashamed about.
They had a fairy-tale run for a team that less than three weeks ago had not won a World Cup game, let alone reach the knockout stages and progress one step more.
For 23 days, they gave some pulsating performances. Up until Argentina, they were unbeaten, beginning with a commendable 1-1 draw with Belgium in the group stage, then secured their first-ever World Cup victory with a 3-1 win over New Zealand before another 1-1 draw with Iran, finishing in Group G with five points, tops with Belgium.
They maintained the momentum by beating Australia on penalties in the round of 32 following a 1-1 draw to set up a historic meeting with Messi’s Argentina for what would be the Pharaohs’ most important football game in their history.
For weeks, there was a fierce passion running across the entire nation, the team’s matches bringing the country to a standstill. Egyptians had not been so unified since the widespread uprisings of 2011 and 2013 disposed of two presidents.
Against Argentina, Egypt were not only facing the biggest test of their World Cup campaign but the biggest test of their lives.
But this time they came up short, and a deadly silence pervaded the streets, replacing all the hoop-la of the past victories.
Still, Egypt almost beat the best.
There is gratitude for all the excitement Egypt created in this World Cup. They gave the best version of themselves.
But there was also the sense of a glorious opportunity that was missed.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 9 July, 2026 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.
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