Miracle on the pitch

Something extraordinary happened at the World Cup as Argentina down 0-2 had just 11 of the 90 minutes on the clock to defend title 

Lifted in glory: Lionel Messi is tossed and toasted by team-mates

It was one of the greatest escapes in World Cup history and the most electrifyingly dramatic story outside the deciding final.

Five times champions Brazil were sent home in disgrace and four time winners Germany was subjected to the same fate.

Another winner, the defending champions Argentina refused to go down or submit to a foe they have never lost to.

But history for Egypt was a few minutes away from being written as signs became apparent that Argentina and thousands of their supporters at a packed Atlanta stadium in the USA would be leaving the World Cup as a conquered nation at the hands of Egypt who took a 2-0 lead until 11 of the 90 minutes of the encounter, barring the marginal few minutes of extra time if needed.

But just when most followers thought the end result was a foregone conclusion, something magically extraordinary took place that brought agony to Egypt and relief to Argentina more than joy.

At the centre of it was the man the world calls the most sensational and marvelously gifted player in Lionel Messi who an hour ago missed a sitter of a penalty after Egypt went ahead 1-0 with a goal by Yasser Ibrahim.

A team that was almost dead and awaiting a final burial rite rose like a Phoenix, a reference to the mythical bird of Egypt, as Messi slammed a cross kick for Cristiani Romero to use his head and find the back of the next.

Less than four minutes later in his true typical style Messi slammed the ball past Egypt’s goal keeper Mostafa Shobier levelling the scores 2-2, after Egypt had moved ahead 2-1, and the North African nation fell from grace as Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez making use of the mandatory seven minutes of stoppage time headed the winner.

It brought sheer relief more than joy for Argentina who would never have been excused from failing to book a place and a date with Switzerland in the quarter finals.

An emotional Messi, carrying the hopes and expectations of billions of followers all over the world fought to hold back his tears when it ended which was a testimony of to the most contested contest so far in the 2026 World Cup.

Argentina was eventually the penultimate team to qualify to the quarter finals after France, Morocco, Spain, Belgium, Norway and England with Switzerland being the last according to the schedule.