USWNT head coach Emma Hayes was left starstruck at the World Cup after sharing the pitch with two of the greatest players of all time. The Olympic gold-winning manager was invited to perform the ceremonial coin flip before Argentina's dramatic round-of-16 clash against Egypt, bringing her face-to-face with Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah - an unforgettable moment that even had Arsenal legend Ian Wright labelling the USWNT boss "the queen GOAT."
The Egyptian Football Association has launched an extraordinary attack on the standard of officiating at the 2026 World Cup following their heartbreaking exit at the hands of Argentina. In an official statement, the governing body expressed its "widespread frustration" over a series of controversial calls that saw the Pharaohs surrender a two-goal lead.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has sent a blunt message to the Argentina squad, insisting that Lionel Messi cannot continue to carry the national team alone despite his superhuman performances at the World Cup. The Inter Miami superstar was at his talismanic best during a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Egypt, but Ibrahimovic believes the supporting cast must do more to alleviate the burden on their captain.
Major League Soccer unveiled its full All-Star Game roster ahead of its annual matchup with Liga MX's best players, with a number of the league's top stars supplementing an already impressive XI selected through fan voting. Lionel Messi is the headliner, while new additions include Sam Surridge, Evander, Tim Ream and Anders Dreyer.
Kylian Mbappe is on a Lionel Messi-themed revenge mission at the 2026 World Cup, Louis Saha has told GOAL, with France’s talismanic striker determined to right a few wrongs from Qatar 2022. Final agony - despite scoring a hat-trick against Argentina - was endured in the Middle East, but positive progress has been made through another major competition on North American soil.
Lionel Messi cut a figure of raw emotion in Atlanta after Argentina’s dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Egypt, admitting he was left "very distressed" by his own performance. Despite leading his nation into the World Cup quarter-finals, the legendary captain struggled to reconcile his creative brilliance with a historic failure from the penalty spot.
Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan has sensationally claimed his side were victims of an "injustice" following their dramatic 3-2 World Cup round-of-16 defeat to Argentina. The Pharaohs surrendered a two-goal lead in Atlanta as the reigning champions mounted a late comeback, but the match was defined by a series of contentious officiating decisions that left the African giants fuming.
Tom Brady was left stunned by Lionel Messi and Argentina following their incredible 3-2 victory over Egypt. The NFL icon suggested that the dramatic turnaround in Atlanta might have surpassed his own legendary Super Bowl comeback with the New England Patriots, as the South American side scored three late goals to secure a spectacular quarter-final spot.
Lionel Messi has matched a spectacular World Cup record previously set by Diego Maradona after inspiring Argentina to a breathtaking 3-2 comeback victory over Egypt. The captain was instrumental as his team overturned a two-goal deficit in the final minutes, securing a quarter-final spot while registering astonishing individual statistics that cement his legacy on the global stage.
Lionel Messi could not contain his emotions at the final whistle in Atlanta as Argentina staged a sensational late comeback to beat Egypt 3-2. After watching old rivals Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar suffer painful exits in previous matches, the Inter Miami star shed tears of joy as the reigning champions secured their place in the quarter-finals.
Lionel Messi made amends for missing a second penalty at the 2026 World Cup by inspiring the most dramatic of comebacks, as Argentina came from 2-0 down with just over 10 minutes remaining to beat a heroic Egypt side 3-2 in a last-16 clash for the ages in Atlanta. Lionel Scaloni's side started as sluggishly as they had performed in their lucky win over Cape Verde by the same scoreline, and Egypt took advantage, with an unmarked Yasser Ibrahim burying a cross from Marwan Attia past Emiliano Martinez with just 15 minutes gone.
Cristiano Ronaldo has always been a man who thrives under the bright lights of the stadium, but his future could lie under the even brighter lights of Hollywood. According to former France international Emmanuel Petit, the Portuguese superstar possesses a unique quality that his career-long rival Lionel Messi simply lacks.
Lionel Messi has etched his name into the record books once again, though this time for reasons he would much rather forget. During Argentina's high-stakes World Cup clash against Egypt, the legendary forward set a new tournament benchmark that highlights a rare vulnerability from 12 yards.
Former Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry has called for Kylian Mbappe to test himself in the Premier League before his career concludes. Barry believes the Frenchman should make the move to the Etihad Stadium to ensure he does not mirror Lionel Messi in never playing in England's top flight.
Before he was an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner and a world champion, Lionel Messi was already a living legend in the streets of Rosario. Long before he moved to Barcelona's La Masia, the "tiny magician" was making enough waves at Newell's Old Boys that the club’s senior professionals would halt their schedules just to catch a glimpse of his genius.
Cameroon legend Roger Milla has delivered a fascinating verdict on the enduring brilliance of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as they continue to defy biological limits at the 2026 World Cup. The man who famously holds the record for the oldest scorer in tournament history has admitted that while playing until 50 remains unrealistic, he is ready to see his historic milestone surpassed by the two modern icons.
