Messi: They Were Tears of Joy and Relief

Lionel Messi has revealed the reason behind his emotional reaction following Argentina's 3-2 World Cup last-16 victory over Egypt. The "Gauchos" found themselves 2-0 down but mounted a stunning comeback, leading to Messi's tears.

"It was joy and relief because we desperately wanted to advance. It all stemmed from what happened in the match and the immense effort we had to put in. I was very angry because I missed a penalty. It's not easy to play when you're 2-0 down," Messi stated.

In the quarter-finals, Argentina will face Switzerland, who eliminated Colombia after a penalty shootout.

Messi currently leads the scoring charts at the 2026 World Cup with 8 goals, bringing his career total at World Cup finals to 21.