Lionel Messi still finished as the standout in Argentina's 3-2 win over Egypt, despite missing a penalty in the 21st minute after Enzo Fernández was fouled in the box. Messi still earned a 9/10, and that feels right for a performance that ended with a goal, an assist, six key passes and five successful dribbles in 100 minutes.

Messi's response after the miss

The penalty debate will get the noise, and it is easy to see why. Some reports put the miss in the 19th minute, others in the 20th, but the verified match event says 21 minutes. What matters more is what came after it: Cristian Romero headed in Messi’s cross in the 79th minute to halve the deficit, before Messi volleyed home in the 83rd to bring Argentina level.

That sequence is why Messi ends up with the top mark here. His 9/10 was not just about the equaliser, either. It was the kind of evening where the penalty miss could have swallowed the rest of the display, but instead the final 15 minutes turned him into the decisive figure.

Romero and Enzo Fernández finish the job

Romero’s 7.9 was backed up by the details. He added the equalising goal plus three tackles and seven duels won from 10, which was a strong return for a centre-back who had to help drag Argentina out of trouble.

Enzo Fernández matched Romero at 7.9 and did the last bit of the work, heading home in the third minute of stoppage time to complete the turnaround. Leandro Paredes was the best of the midfield behind him with an 8.2, while Mostafa Shobeir made four saves for Egypt but could not stop the comeback from running its course.

Mostafa Ziko at 7.7 was the pick of Egypt's outfield players after his goal from one shot on target. Yasser Ibrahim had given Egypt the lead in the 15th minute, and Mostafa Ziko's strike in the 67th minute put them in control before the late collapse.

Lionel Scaloni's side started as sluggishly as they had performed in their lucky win over Cape Verde by the same scoreline, but this time the response was much better. The final score went to Argentina vs Egypt's comeback heroes, and the ratings reflect that: Messi on top, Romero and Enzo right behind him.

FAQ

Did Lionel Messi rescue Argentina against Egypt?

Yes. Messi scored in the 83rd minute to level the match after missing a penalty in the 21st minute, then Argentina completed the turnaround through Enzo Fernández in stoppage time. He also finished with a 9/10 rating, one goal, one assist, six key passes and five successful dribbles in 100 minutes.

Who stood out in Argentina's comeback against Egypt?

Messi was the standout with a 9/10, but Cristian Romero and Enzo Fernández were also key. Romero headed in Messi’s cross in the 79th minute, while Enzo Fernández scored the stoppage-time winner and matched Romero with a 7.9 rating.

What happened after Messi missed the penalty against Egypt?

Argentina recovered from 2-0 down to win 3-2. Messi missed the spot-kick in the 21st minute, Romero reduced the deficit in the 79th, Messi equalised in the 83rd, and Enzo Fernández headed the winner in the third minute of stoppage time.

Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 9 outlets. How we work →