Atlanta: Lionel Messi was involved in a heated exchange with Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan during the closing stages of Argentina’s dramatic FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 victory, with footage of the incident going viral on social media.
Argentina completed a stunning comeback against Egypt on Tuesday, recovering from a 0-2 deficit to win 3-2 and secure a place in the quarter-finals. However, the thrilling contest was overshadowed by several tense moments, including the touchline confrontation involving Messi and the Egypt coach.
Argentina complete dramatic comeback against Egypt
The defending champions looked close to elimination after Egypt established a two-goal advantage late in the match. Yasser Ibrahim opened the scoring in the 15th minute, before Mostafa Ziko doubled Egypt’s lead in the second half after a quick counter-attack.
Argentina, however, refused to give up and launched a remarkable fightback. Cristian Romero reduced the deficit in the 79th minute with a header from Messi’s free-kick, giving the South American side renewed confidence.
Just four minutes later, Messi produced another decisive moment by scoring the equaliser with a powerful strike from outside the penalty area. The comeback was completed in stoppage time when Enzo Fernandez found the winner, sending Argentina into the quarter-finals.
The turnaround triggered emotional scenes among Argentina players and supporters, while Egypt’s players and coaching staff were left frustrated after coming within minutes of a historic upset.
Heated exchange between Messi and Hossam Hassan
During the final minutes of the match, tensions rose between both teams as Egypt attempted to find an equaliser. A confrontation near the touchline involving Messi and Hossam Hassan quickly attracted attention.
Videos circulating online showed the Egypt coach appearing to exchange words with Messi. The Argentina captain looked surprised by the interaction before match officials stepped in to prevent the situation from escalating.
Messi’s teammates also moved towards the scene and helped guide him away from the confrontation as emotions continued to run high.
The incident gained further attention because Hassan appeared to make FIFA’s anti-racism gesture shortly after the exchange. The moment sparked widespread discussion among football fans, although the exact reason behind the gesture and the conversation between the two figures was not immediately confirmed.
Egypt coach questions fairness of result
Following the final whistle, Hossam Hassan expressed his frustration and claimed that Egypt had been unfairly treated during the match.
“Argentina’s victory is entirely undeserved. We had the right to win,” Hassan said while speaking to reporters after the defeat.
The Egypt coach also criticised the officiating decisions during the game, referring to incidents involving VAR and penalty appeals that he believed affected the outcome.
Hassan claimed that his team performed better than the defending champions but suggested that factors beyond football influenced the result.
“We looked better than the reigning champions — better in every way — but the result was influenced by internal factors on the pitch and external factors off it,” he said.
He further suggested that Argentina’s status as world champions and Messi’s global reputation may have played a role in how the match unfolded.
“Perhaps they wanted to keep the world champions in the competition. Perhaps they wanted Messi to stay in the running,” Hassan added.
Argentina continue World Cup defence
Despite the controversy, Argentina advanced to the quarter-finals with another memorable knockout-stage victory. The team showed the resilience that has defined their recent international success, overcoming difficult moments to remain in contention for back-to-back World Cup titles.
Messi once again played a crucial role, contributing a goal after initially missing a first-half penalty. The 39-year-old forward admitted after the match that the missed spot-kick affected him emotionally, but he was relieved to help his team complete the comeback.
Argentina will now prepare for their quarter-final clash against Switzerland, who defeated Colombia on penalties in their Round of 16 encounter.
For Egypt, the defeat ended a historic campaign filled with impressive performances. Although disappointed, the team earned praise for pushing the defending champions to their limit and creating one of the most dramatic matches of the tournament.
The controversy surrounding the match is likely to continue in discussions among fans and analysts, but Argentina’s remarkable comeback has ensured that Messi and his teammates remain on course for another World Cup triumph.