Tears of relief? Messi adds another incredible chapter to World Cup career

A significant story is unfolding on the international scene. Messi adds another incredible chapter to World Cup career Figure caption, Argentina complete extraordinary comeback to beat EgyptByPhil McNulty Chief football writer at Atlanta StadiumPublished3 hours agoLionel Messi stood in the centre of Atlanta Stadium in floods of tears, sobbing on the shoulders of his team-mates, after adding another remarkable World Cup victory to the story of his incredible career. Argentina's great sporting icon had been captured on the giant screens looking up in despair as the holders trailed Egypt 2-0 with less than 20 minutes left. At that point, any tears Messi may have shed would have been the same as those of his great contemporary Cristiano Ronaldo, who made an emotional farewell to the World Cup after Portugal's injury-time loss to Spain.

Instead, this defiant Argentina decided that was simply not going to happen - scoring three goals in 14 minutes to turn the game around in one of the most remarkable comebacks the World Cup has ever seen. Messi may be 39 and doing much of his work at walking pace these days, but the magic has not been dimmed by the passing of the years. Messi conserves his energy for when it matters.

The Details

The body may be slower but the brain remains razor sharp. The genius is permanent. And he proved it once more in the most dramatic fashion on another spine-tingling World Cup occasion, pulling Argentina up from the canvas just as Egypt were about to add to this tournament's list of shocks.

Argentina complete extraordinary comeback to beat Egypt Egypt led through goals in each half from Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Zico – the latter of whom had an earlier goal ruled by the video assistant referee for a foul at the other end of the pitch - and keeper Mostafa Shobeir was in inspired form. Messi even had a first-half penalty saved by Shobeir - the fourth of eight spot-kicks he has failed to score at a World Cup. Having missed against Austria, it also meant be became the only player - excluding shootouts - to fail to convert two penalties in a single World Cup.

But there was still time for Messi to again produce moments that shape a game to pull Argentina away from a World Cup exit to scenes of joy similar to those seen when they won the tournament in Qatar almost four years ago. With only 11 minutes left, he crossed for Cristiano Romero to give Argentina hope with a header. Four minutes and 18 seconds later, Messi sent a left-footed shot flashing high past Shobeir and in off the bar.

Egypt had given everything, finally succumbing to Enzo Fernandez's header in stoppage time for the most heartbreaking of exits. From the depths of despair, Messi was being tossed high into the air by his team-mates in front of Argentina's fans, who stayed in place long after the final whistle going through their full setlist of songs to a thudding drumbeat. This is why Messi's Argentina colleagues are willing to sacrifice themselves when it comes to the donkey work.

The story has become one of the most prominent items on the global agenda.