Argentina captain Lionel Messi has revealed why he broke down in tears after his side’s dramatic victory over Egypt in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, admitting the emotions came from guilt over his missed penalty and relief at helping his team recover.
The defending champions looked destined for a shock exit after falling two goals behind, with Messi enduring a difficult first half that included a missed spot-kick.
However, Argentina mounted a remarkable comeback as Cristian Romero reduced the deficit before Messi found the equaliser. Enzo Fernández then completed the turnaround with a stoppage-time winner to seal a thrilling 3-2 victory.
Reflecting on the emotional scenes after the final whistle, the 39-year-old said the tears were not simply about reaching the quarter-finals but about overcoming the disappointment of letting his teammates down earlier in the match.
“I cried because I felt that I let my teammates down because of the penalty I missed and the way I took it. But thankfully, once again, God had something special for me in the end. I’m very happy.”
Messi also praised the determination shown by the Argentine squad, insisting they never believed their World Cup journey should end against Egypt despite the early setback.
“We didn’t want and didn’t deserve to go home. We could not let it end like that. This group really deserved to keep going. We never give up. Never.”
After enduring one of the most challenging moments of his World Cup career, Messi responded in typical fashion, producing a decisive display that helped keep Argentina’s title defence alive. His contribution proved crucial as the reigning champions completed one of the tournament’s most memorable comebacks.
Argentina will now shift their focus to the quarter-finals, where they are set to face Switzerland as they continue their quest to retain the FIFA World Cup trophy.