Enzo Fernandez scored a late header to give Argentina the lead against Egypt in their last-16 match at the 2026 World Cup, completing a dramatic comeback that sent the reigning champions into the quarter-finals.
The Chelsea midfielder’s strike capped a remarkable turnaround, with Lionel Messi once again at the heart of the action. The Argentina icon took his tournament tally to eight goals, leading the race for the Golden Boot ahead of Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland.
“Enzo Fernandez's late header completed Argentina's comeback against Egypt; Messi leads Golden Boot with eight goals.”
But the result was immediately overshadowed by a furious response from the Egyptian camp. Egypt have made an official complaint to FIFA and demanded an investigation into what they claim were “serious mistakes” and “double standards” by the match officials.
Messi’s eighth goal of the tournament came during the all-time comeback, underlining his enduring brilliance at the age of 38. The Argentina captain has now scored in every match in the knockout stage, inspiring his side to overturn a deficit against a stubborn Egyptian defence.
Egypt’s complaint threatens to cast a shadow over Argentina’s progress, with the north African federation alleging that the refereeing team made critical errors that influenced the outcome. The match had already been high on drama before Fernandez’s decisive intervention.
Argentina will now await the winner of the remaining last-16 ties, while Egypt’s World Cup campaign ends in controversy. The official investigation, if opened, could lead to sanctions or further scrutiny of the officials involved.
For now, Fernandez’s header and Messi’s continued brilliance ensure Argentina remain on course for a second consecutive world title – but the fallout from Cairo shows no sign of abating.