Lionel Messi and Argentina have snatched victory from the jaws of defeat and kept their World Cup dreams alive in the process. The reigning World Cup champions clawed back from a two-goal deficit, scoring three goals in a 13-minute span late in the second half to pull off a 3-2 stunner against Eg ypt in a round of 16 match in Atlanta Tuesday afternoon. Egypt struck first in the 15th minute when Marawan Attia sent a cross in to Yasser Ibrahim, who headed the ball past Argentina goalkeeper Emi Martinez. The early goal put Argentina behind at the World Cup for the first time since its opening match against Saudi Arabia at the 2022 tournament. Messi had a chance to draw Argentina even with a penalty kick in the 21st minute but was thwarted by Egyptian goalkeeper Mostafa Shoubir, who dove to his left for the save. Egypt seemingly took a 2-0 lead in the 58th minute after taking it the length of the field and ending with a goal from Mostafa Ziko. However, a VAR review found that Attia fouled Argentina’s Lisandro Martinez to set up Egypt’s attack, wiping the goal off the board and keeping the deficit at one. The Egyptians were not deterred, though. They mounted another counter attack in the 67th minute with Mo Salah taking it the full length of the pitch. He then dumped it off to Haissem Hassan, who dished a perfect pass to Ziko for the goal. With their backs against the wall, Messi proved yet again why he’s the most decorated player in the history of the game. Argentina got some life back in the 79th minute when Messi lobbed in a crosser for Cristian Romero, who put a convincing header past Shoubir. Messi then found the equalizer in the 83rd minute. The ball bounced around the box before Messi gave a left-footed strike into the back of the net. It was Messi’s eighth goal of the tournament — giving him the top spot in the Golden Boot race once again — the 21st goal of this World Cup career and his ninth straight World Cup match with a goal. Enzo Fernandez put Argentina ahead with a header in the second minute of second-half stoppage time, completing the miracle comeback. Argentina will now await the winner of Tuesday’s Switzerland-Colombia clash in the quarterfinals. That quarterfinal match will be played 9 p.m. ET on Saturday in Kansas City. La Albiceleste is looking to become the third ever team to repeat as World Cup champions. Only Italy (1934 and 1938) and Brazil (1958 and 1962) have accomplished the feat. ...read more read less