Lionel Messi left one of the most emotional images of the 2026 World Cup when he burst into tears after Argentina qualified for the quarterfinals. The Albiceleste captain explained that the tears came due to the intensity of the moment, after a comeback that allowed his team to beat Egypt 3-2 when it seemed to be left out of the tournament.

The victory, achieved in Atlanta, came after a match in which Argentina was on the ropes for much of the second half. The South American team was losing 2-0 until the 79th minute, but managed to turn the score around with goals from Cristian “Cuti” Romero, Messi and Enzo Fernández to keep the World Cup dream alive.

At the end of the match, the forward acknowledged that the classification represented a huge relief for the entire team.

"It was a bit for happiness, for relief, because we wanted to continue being there. It couldn't end like today, we don't want to leave," Messi told reporters after the match.

A comeback that once again had Messi as the protagonist

The Argentine captain admitted that the team went through one of its most difficult moments of the championship when the scoreboard reflected a two-goal deficit. However, he highlighted the group's ability to react in an extreme scenario.

“It was a relief for everyone, because we had seen it ugly,” said the footballer, who also scored the tying goal when the clock showed the 83rd minute.

The Inter Miami player assured that these types of matches reflect the difficulty of the tournament. “We suffered a lot again but hey, this is the World Cup and all the games are going the same, all very even,” he commented.

Messi also valued the mental strength of his teammates to reverse an adverse situation. “It had gotten tough with 0-2 and it was very exciting to be able to turn it around,” he stated, before highlighting the attitude of the team: “It is not easy to overcome a 0-2 but this group never gives up and tries until the end.”

The forward had a decisive participation despite missing a penalty during the first half. His goal started the road to the comeback and raised his personal tally to eight goals, a figure with which he became the top scorer of the current World Cup.

“It's crazy what this group did today in this tie,” added the Argentine captain, who also thanked the fans for their continued support and made it clear that the team is already concentrating its efforts on the next round.

The performance against Egypt was added to the one he had previously signed against Cape Verde, a match in which he opened the scoring and led Argentina to a 3-2 victory in extra time. In both matches he remained on the field for 120 minutes.

Having just turned 39, Messi once again played a decisive role for the Albiceleste. In addition to having become the top scorer in World Cup history during this World Cup, he now led another comeback that keeps Argentina among the eight best teams in the tournament and brings it one step closer to the fight for the title.