Argentina’s dramatic comeback victory over Egypt in the Round of 16 was another special, emotional chapter that could make a grown man cry.
Lionel Messi was having a game to forget before he inspired another night to remember.
The Argentina legend missed a penalty and was far from his usual form for most of the game against Egypt. That is, until the last ten minutes or so, when he produced an assist for Cristian Romero and in the 83rd minute scored a stunning equaliser, ultimately leading La Albiceleste to a 3-2 win over the Pharaohs in the space of less than 15 minutes. After the final whistle, he was visibly emotional.
It was a show to behold and it was impossible not to notice the emotion – clear to everyone: his team-mates and opponents alike, the fans in Atlanta Stadium and the millions watching from home. Every time it looks as though the story is over, Messi adds another chapter. And for reasons impossible to explain, it just keeps getting better. This Round-of-16 FIFA World Cup™ tie was another special, emotional chapter that could make a grown man cry.
As with any good novel, the story builds on itself: the match felt like a repeat of what had happened against Austria in the group stage, when Argentina was awarded a penalty that could have given them some breathing space by giving them the lead. This afternoon, it would have been an opportunity to level the score against Egypt. But in both cases, Messi put the penalty wide of the post.
The team was not left unaffected. Despite creating several dangerous opportunities against the Pharaohs, Argentina lacked rhythm and cohesion, much like in their previous match against Cabo Verde.
With Argentina trailing 2-0 and less than 20 minutes remaining, Messi seemed to spot a weakness in Egypt’s defence. Drifting to the right – as was his wont in his younger years – he began finding space. Though no longer possessing the same physical explosiveness, he managed to beat defenders, combine with team-mates and trouble Hossam Hassan’s back line.
The emotion threatened to overwhelm him. Perhaps because of the realisation that the shadow of an ending was drawing closer. At 39 years old, Messi knows that any match could be his last on the world’s biggest stage. When every touch of the ball can feel like a farewell, the weight of it all can seem overwhelming. Perhaps that is why he played the way he did: as if it were both his first and last match.
“I can’t look up, I’m sorry. I’m very emotional. These players are like brothers to me. That’s all, I have to go,” said Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni after the match. He could barely speak, a man burdened by the raw emotion and intensity of leading his men to victory.
Late into the second half, Messi made a perfectly weighted pass to Romero, who found the back of the net. In the 83rd minute, Gonzalo Montiel found Messi inside the penalty area, and La Pulga showcased his extraordinary brilliance once again, striking the ball with his instep and guiding it beneath the crossbar, leaving the goalkeeper helpless. He sprinted toward the corner flag and leapt into the air in celebration before jumping again, giving free rein to his elation.
“I’m happy that we qualified, I’m happy because of the way we did it. It was a difficult match. It’s very emotional to come back like that. We suffered a lot, but this is the World Cup, and every game is incredibly evenly matched,” Messi said after receiving the Michelob Ultra Superior Player of the Match award.
He added: “It was a relief for everyone because of how the game unfolded. Coming back from being 2-0 down is never easy, but we never give up. We managed to turn it around within the 90 minutes. What this team accomplished is crazy. I’m happy that the people can keep enjoying it, and hopefully we can keep going.”
When the match ended, he cried like he did after losing the 2014 World Cup final to Germany, and like he did after winning the CONMEBOL Copa America against Colombia. After this huge comeback win, his team-mates tossed him in the air as if they had just won another World Cup. That was how it felt.
On the pitch, Messi’s emotion was palpable, his heart as childlike as those of the children on Argentina’s dusty football fields. He played with the frustration of a boy who cannot bear to lose and the maturity of a man who knows that every victory only postpones the end a little.
