The greats don’t go down easy, and that’s exactly what happened in Atlanta as Egypt tried to slay Lionel Messi and the defending champs, Argentina, on Tuesday.
The Egyptians opened the scoring in the 15th minute to shock the world, scoring the first goal in the first half against Argentina at the World Cup. Then, Messi missed a penalty kick six minutes later. After a second-half goal by Egypt, the Argentinians needed a comeback for the ages, and they did just that.
Patrick Mahomes, NFL World Amazed By Lionel Messi, Argentina’s World Cup Comeback Vs. Egypt
Argentina went into halftime down 1-0, its first time trailing in the World Cup. They put constant pressure on Egypt in the second half, but that didn’t stop the Egyptians from putting another ball in the back of the net.
After Mostafa Zico had a goal taken off the board, he landed another shot in the back of the net in the 67th minute to give Egypt a 2-0 lead and put Argentina on the brink of elimination.
But the defending champs weren’t going out without a fight. Argentina finally broke through in the 79th minute as Cristian Romero scored on an assist from Messi, and the Argentina legend got himself in the score column four minutes later to even the match at tw goals apiece.
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Messi became the first player to miss two penalty kicks in the same World Cup and then reminded everyone why he’s considered the goat with his 79th-minute equalizer to save Argentina.
Social media went crazy after his goal, with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the NFL world joining in.
“MESSSSSIIIIIIII THE SAVIOR FOR ARGENTINA,” Pat McAfee wrote on X. “Man… Argentina is FILTHY,” McAfee added moments later.
Mahomes needed no words to describe Messi after his goal, and just shared a GOAT emoji.
🐐
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) July 7, 2026
“Lionel Messi is not of this world!” NFL insider Jordan Schultz wrote.
Lionel Messi is not of this world! 👽🛸 pic.twitter.com/NJdmnOyroh
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) July 7, 2026
Emmanuel Acho echoed a similar sentiment. “OMG Messi!!!!!! Lionel Messi is the greatest ever. There’s been no one like him before and there will be no one like him after!!”
“Messi the goat for real,” Dallas Cowboys legend Dez Bryant said.
“Holy (expletive) (expletive) Messi,” Chad Johnson (Ochocinco) posted.
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First Things First co-host Nick Wright took a shot at the United States when talking about the excitement of the World Cup so far.
“Every damn game of this FIFA World Cup* is just absolutely unbelievable. It’s just been a month straight of utter theater. *Last night’s USMNT’s game was, sadly, the exception.”
Meanwhile, CBS Sports’ JP Acosta took a shot at the Atlanta Falcons while watching Egypt choke its 2-0 lead. “A team in red and black trying to close out a game in Atlanta, what could go wrong”
Tom Brady also chimed in on Argentina’s performance and said, “Yeah, so that might top 28-3.”
Argentina found the back of the net on a fast-break opportunity in stoppage time thanks to Enzo Fernández’s game-winning header that sent Argentina onto the quarterfinals.
The defending champs have now been tested in back-to-back games after needing extra time again against Cape Verde, but they are still standing. Now, they’ll await the winner of the Colombia-Switzerland match.
