Egypt 2 – 3 Argentina

WORLDCUP · July 7, 2026 · Final

🎧 Post-Game Report (audio)

Post-Game Recap

Argentina held off Egypt three goals to two in a World Cup clash that was far more complicated than the scoreline suggests. Argentina controlled this game from the opening whistle — sixty-three percent of the ball, nineteen shots to Egypt's five — but it was Egypt who kept punching back and refusing to go quietly. Argentina struck first, and for stretches it looked like they'd cruise, but Egypt found the net twice to keep the tension alive deep into the second half. It was Messi who set the tone for the winners, generating five total shots and constantly dragging Egypt's defense out of shape. Behind him, Leandro Paredes was the engine in midfield, completing a staggering one hundred fifteen accurate passes to keep Argentina's rhythm relentless. At the back, Lisandro Martínez was immovable — fourteen defensive interventions, the kind of performance that wins knockout football. Egypt's Trézéguet gave them moments of real danger with two shots, and the Egyptian defense, led by Yasser Ibrahim's eleven interventions, made Argentina work for every inch. Four yellow cards for Egypt told you how desperate things got. Argentina's goalkeeper wasn't tested — zero saves needed — while Egypt's keeper made four. In the end, Argentina had too much quality. That's your post-game report. Sports Desk, signing off.

AI-generated post-game report composed from the official play-by-play and box score.

Complete Play-by-Play

Show all 116 plays

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

First Half begins.

Mohamed Salah (Egypt) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 5'

Foul by Enzo Fernández (Argentina). 5'

Foul by Nicolás Tagliafico (Argentina). 7'

Haissem Hassan (Egypt) wins a free kick on the right wing. 7'

Offside, Argentina. Rodrigo De Paul is caught offside. 9'

Karim Hafez (Egypt) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 11'

Foul by Enzo Fernández (Argentina). 11'

Emam Ashour (Egypt) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 13'

Foul by Rodrigo De Paul (Argentina). 13'

Corner, Egypt. Conceded by Lisandro Martínez. 14'

Goal! Argentina 0, Egypt 1. Yasser Ibrahim (Egypt) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Marwan Attia with a cross following a corner. 15'

Foul by Yasser Ibrahim (Egypt). 18'

Julián Alvarez (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 18'

Penalty conceded by Haissem Hassan (Egypt) after a foul in the penalty area. 19'

Penalty Argentina. Nicolás Tagliafico draws a foul in the penalty area. 19'

Penalty saved. Lionel Messi (Argentina) left footed shot saved in the bottom right corner by Mostafa Shobeir (Egypt). 21'

Emam Ashour (Egypt) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 21'

Foul by Cristian Romero (Argentina). 21'

Mohamed Salah (Egypt) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 23'

Foul by Lisandro Martínez (Argentina). 23'

Delay in match for a drinks break. 23'

Delay over. They are ready to continue. 26'

Attempt saved. Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Mostafa Shobeir (Egypt). Assisted by Rodrigo De Paul with a cross. 28'

Attempt blocked. Enzo Fernández (Argentina) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Lionel Messi. 29'

Foul by Marwan Attia (Egypt). 30'

Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 30'

Lionel Messi (Argentina) hits the left post with a left footed shot from outside the box from a direct free kick. 31'

VAR Decision: Other Decision Cancelled. 32'

Foul by Mohanad Lasheen (Egypt). 33'

Julián Alvarez (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 33'

Attempt missed. Karim Hafez (Egypt) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. 35'

Attempt missed. Lionel Messi (Argentina) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Nahuel Molina. 38'

Attempt saved. Julián Alvarez (Argentina) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Mostafa Shobeir (Egypt). Assisted by Nicolás Tagliafico. 39'

Corner, Argentina. Conceded by Mostafa Shobeir. 39'

Delay in match because of an injury Mostafa Shobeir (Egypt). 39'

Delay over. They are ready to continue. 41'

Attempt missed. Julián Alvarez (Argentina) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Lionel Messi. 43'

Foul by Marwan Attia (Egypt). 44'

Lionel Messi (Argentina) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 44'

Mohamed Salah (Egypt) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 45'

Foul by Julián Alvarez (Argentina). 45'

Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time. 45'

Ramy Rabia (Egypt) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 45'+2'

Foul by Julián Alvarez (Argentina). 45'+2'

Delay in match because of an injury Ramy Rabia (Egypt). 45'+3'

Delay over. They are ready to continue. 45'+4'

Offside, Argentina. Enzo Fernández is caught offside. 45'+5'

First Half ends, Argentina 0, Egypt 1. 45'+7'

Substitution, Egypt. Hamdi Fathy replaces Emam Ashour because of an injury. 45'

Second Half begins Argentina 0, Egypt 1. 45'

Mohamed Salah (Egypt) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 46'

Foul by Lisandro Martínez (Argentina). 46'

Attempt saved. Rodrigo De Paul (Argentina) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Mostafa Shobeir (Egypt). Assisted by Lionel Messi. 47'

Mostafa Shobeir (Egypt) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 48'

Foul by Julián Alvarez (Argentina). 48'

Haissem Hassan (Egypt) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 48'

Foul by Nicolás Tagliafico (Argentina). 48'

Foul by Mohamed Salah (Egypt). 52'

Leandro Paredes (Argentina) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 52'

Attempt missed. Leandro Paredes (Argentina) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Rodrigo De Paul following a set piece situation. 53'

Delay in match (Argentina). 54'

Delay over. They are ready to continue. 54'

Foul by Hamdi Fathy (Egypt). 55'

Lionel Messi (Argentina) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 55'

Attempt blocked. Leandro Paredes (Argentina) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Nahuel Molina. 58'

Foul by Marwan Attia (Egypt). 58'

Lisandro Martínez (Argentina) wins a free kick on the left wing. 58'

GOAL OVERTURNED BY VAR: Mostafa Zico (Egypt) scores but the goal is ruled out after a VAR review. 58'

VAR Decision: No Goal Argentina 0-1 Egypt. 59'

Attempt missed. Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina) header from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Lionel Messi with a cross following a set piece situation. 61'

Corner, Argentina. Conceded by Hamdi Fathy. 61'

Foul by Mohamed Salah (Egypt). 64'

Lisandro Martínez (Argentina) wins a free kick on the left wing. 64'

Corner, Argentina. Conceded by Mostafa Zico. 66'

Substitution, Argentina. Nico González replaces Nicolás Tagliafico. 66'

Substitution, Argentina. Lautaro Martínez replaces Rodrigo De Paul. 66'

Corner, Argentina. Conceded by Mostafa Zico. 67'

Goal! Argentina 0, Egypt 2. Mostafa Zico (Egypt) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Haissem Hassan following a fast break. 67'

Attempt missed. Lisandro Martínez (Argentina) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. 70'

Delay in match for a drinks break. 71'

Delay over. They are ready to continue. 73'

Substitution, Argentina. Gonzalo Montiel replaces Nahuel Molina. 73'

Substitution, Egypt. Trezeguet replaces Haissem Hassan because of an injury. 73'

Attempt blocked. Lautaro Martínez (Argentina) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Nico González with a cross. 74'

Attempt missed. Lautaro Martínez (Argentina) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Nico González with a cross. 75'

Offside, Argentina. Julián Alvarez is caught offside. 76'

Attempt missed. Trezeguet (Egypt) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Mostafa Zico. 77'

Attempt blocked. Lionel Messi (Argentina) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Alexis Mac Allister. 78'

Corner, Argentina. Conceded by Trezeguet. 78'

Goal! Argentina 1, Egypt 2. Cristian Romero (Argentina) header from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Lionel Messi with a cross. 79'

Substitution, Egypt. Omar Marmoush replaces Mostafa Zico. 80'

Corner, Argentina. Conceded by Mohamed Salah. 82'

Attempt missed. Lautaro Martínez (Argentina) header from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Lionel Messi. 82'

Goal! Argentina 2, Egypt 2. Lionel Messi (Argentina) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Gonzalo Montiel. 83'

Omar Marmoush (Egypt) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 87'

Foul by Nico González (Argentina). 87'

Foul by Karim Hafez (Egypt). 89'

Lautaro Martínez (Argentina) wins a free kick on the right wing. 89'

Fourth official has announced 7 minutes of added time. 90'

Attempt missed. Trezeguet (Egypt) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Mohamed Hany with a cross. 90'+2'

Goal! Argentina 3, Egypt 2. Enzo Fernández (Argentina) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Lautaro Martínez with a cross following a fast break. 90'+2'

Mostafa Shobeir (Egypt) is shown the yellow card. 90'+3'

Hamdi Fathy (Egypt) is shown the yellow card. 90'+4'

Substitution, Argentina. Facundo Medina replaces Julián Alvarez. 90'+5'

Substitution, Argentina. Nicolás Otamendi replaces Cristian Romero. 90'+5'

Substitution, Egypt. Zizo replaces Mohanad Lasheen. 90'+6'

Zizo (Egypt) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 90'+7'

Foul by Nico González (Argentina). 90'+7'

Foul by Marwan Attia (Egypt). 90'+8'

Lautaro Martínez (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 90'+8'

Marwan Attia (Egypt) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. 90'+8'

Second Half ends, Argentina 3, Egypt 2. 90'+12'

Haissem Hassan (Egypt) is shown the yellow card. 90'+12'

Match ends, Argentina 3, Egypt 2.