Messi: 'I was furious over the missed penalty, but God gave me a second chance'

Argentina's round of 16 clash against Egypt at the World Cup turned into a true test of character for Lionel Messi and his team. Trailing 2-0 and facing the prospect of a stunning elimination, the defending champions staged a remarkable comeback to win 3-2. In the first half, with the score at 1-0, Messi had a golden opportunity to equalize but saw his penalty saved. When Egypt doubled their lead in the 67th minute, the burden on the captain grew even heavier. However, in the 83rd minute, shortly after Cristian Romero pulled one back, it was Messi who scored the equalizer. After the final whistle, the captain did not hide his emotions and explained why his celebration was so intense: 'The truth is, it was a moment of relief—relief for all of us. I was furious with myself for missing that penalty, the way I took it. I felt like I had let the team down at a crucial moment,' Messi admitted. But, as the legendary forward said, fate gave him a chance to make amends before Enzo Fernández netted the winner in stoppage time: 'Luckily, God had one more special thing in store for me at the end, and I managed to level the score. It was an enormous release and endless joy for us and for the fans, who once again showed what it means to be Argentine, filling us with so much pride.' As the final whistle blew, Messi broke down in tears on the pitch. His teammates immediately rushed to him, lifting him into the air. Everyone understands they are playing not only for their country but also for their captain in his last World Cup. 'I told him out there to enjoy this because he deserves it. We will give everything for ourselves, but even more for him, because he has given us so much,' striker Lautaro Martínez emphasized. Head coach Lionel Scaloni joined the celebrations in the dressing room. He stressed that Messi takes the pitch precisely for moments like these and urged everyone to savor every minute of his play. That goal not only brought Messi peace of mind but also new historic achievements. He moved clear at the top of the Golden Boot race with eight goals in the tournament, surpassing Mbappé and Haaland. Additionally, he has now scored in nine consecutive World Cup matches. Now Messi and his team turn their attention to the next challenge. On July 12, Argentina will face Switzerland in the quarterfinals in Kansas City.