Lionel Messi breaks World Cup record as Argentina beat Egypt to reach quarter-final and set up potential England clash

Lionel Messi became the archetypal subordinate to ever people successful six consecutive knockout matches astatine the World Cup aft starring Argentina's comeback triumph against Egypt.

The penultimate round of 16 fixture began connected Tuesday afternoon, with the Argentinians wide expected to expanse past Mohamed Salah's side.

However, the Pharaohs managed to instrumentality a 2-0 pb successful the 2nd half, and it looked arsenic if they would caput into the quarter-finals fixed they managed to support La Albiceleste retired for the archetypal 78 minutes of the clash.

However, precocious goals from Cristian Romero, Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernandez broke Egyptian hearts and sent Argentina done to the past 8 arsenic 3-2 winners.

That was Messi's eighth extremity of the existent tournament, and Opta information reveals that the 39-year-old has present go the first ever subordinate successful World Cup history to people successful six consecutive knockout matches.

Lionel Messi astatine the 2026 World Cup: Why is helium inactive truthful good?

Many person highlighted Cristiano Ronaldo astatine the World Cup arsenic an illustration of a subordinate past their best, and his struggles tin beryllium explained by the information helium offers precise small extracurricular of finishing.

Even erstwhile the 41-year-old was successful the punishment country this summer, helium often failed to marque the close question to get the amended of defenders, and his quality to sprout from scope has diminished considerably.

Messi is 2 years younger than his counterpart, but helium excels crossed the entirety of the pitch, with his passing and dribbling qualities inactive among the champion successful the world.

The Argentine's shooting quality is inactive exceptional, and portion helium provides adjacent to thing without the ball, a instrumentality of 8 goals and 1 assistance successful 5 World Cup games much than justifies a relaxed relation retired of possession.

How England tin inactive look Argentina astatine the World Cup

England person secured their spot arsenic 1 of 8 teams successful the quarter-finals, and they cognize that they volition person to get the amended of Norway if they are to beforehand into the semi-finals.

Argentina's progression means they volition look either Colombia oregon Switzerland next, and should they triumph that game, they volition past look either England oregon Norway.

Thomas Tuchel's men volition people person to absorption connected their upcoming quarter-final, but the Three Lions brag whitethorn soon look the imaginable of having to get the amended of Messi, a daunting situation fixed the Argentine has arguably been the champion subordinate astatine the World Cup.