Lionel Messi rewrote football history once again on Tuesday as Argentina orchestrated a legendary late turnaround to defeat Egypt 3-2 at the 2026 World Cup. The dramatic Round of 16 triumph in Atlanta not only secured a quarterfinal berth for the defending champions but also confirmed that the captain had officially claimed the Lionel Messi World Cup assists record, cementing his status as the tournament’s greatest playmaker.
The high-stakes match initially seemed destined for a shocking upset after Egypt raced to an unexpected 2-0 lead. The pressure mounted further when Messi saw a first-half penalty saved—making him the first player ever to miss two spot-kicks in a single World Cup edition. However, the iconic forward spearheaded a furious counter-response in the final quarter-hour.
In the 79th minute, Messi delivered a precise cross to Cristian Romero, who headed it home to secure Messi’s ninth career tournament assist. The historic pass officially broke the long-standing benchmark of eight assists previously held by Argentine legend Diego Maradona. Four minutes later, Messi equalized himself with a spectacular volley from inside the box before Enzo Fernández struck the dramatic 93rd-minute winner, keeping Argentina’s title defense alive.
