The Argentina national team secured a hard-fought victory over Egypt in the Round of 16 match of the 2026 World Cup. The match, held in Atlanta, ended with a score of 3:2 in favor of the defending champions. This result was not just another step towards the title, but also a personal historical triumph for team captain Lionel Messi.
Historic assist and record of a legend
The main event of the evening was the goal assist by the 39-year-old Argentine. In the 79th minute, when the outcome of the match was in question, Messi provided a decisive pass to Cristian Romero, bringing the "albiceleste" back into the game.
This assist became Leo's ninth in World Cup history. Thanks to this achievement, Messi officially broke Diego Maradona's "eternal record" for the number of goal assists in World Cups. The legendary Argentine set this barrier back during his triumph at the 1986 tournament.
Double success and unique statistics
The captain's successes were not limited to a single pass. Just four minutes after setting up the goal, Messi scored himself. He beautifully curled the ball into the far corner of the goal past goalkeeper Shobeir, securing his team's advantage.
At this point, Messi's statistics at the 2026 World Cup look impressive: the star has 8 goals and 1 assist in 5 matches played.
Anti-record and advancement to the knockout stage
Despite the heroic comeback, the match brought Messi a unique, albeit unpleasant, achievement. He became the first player in history to miss two penalties within a single World Cup tournament. The first miss occurred in the first half.
However, this anti-record did not prevent the Argentina national team from advancing to the quarterfinals of the tournament. The team continues its fight for another title as the world's best.
