‘I was really angry’: Lionel Messi reveals why he burst into tears after Argentina’s dramatic World Cup win over Egypt

Lionel Messi has revealed the emotional reason behind his tears following Argentina’s dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Egypt national football team in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16, admitting he was overcome by frustration after missing a crucial penalty earlier in the match.

Argentina looked headed for a shock exit after falling 2-0 behind to Egypt. Messi endured a difficult evening, missing a first-half penalty before helping spark a remarkable comeback. The defending champions scored three times in the final stages through Cristian Romero, Messi and Enzo Fernández to book their place in the quarter-finals.

Speaking after the match, Messi admitted his emotions got the better of him because he was upset with his own performance.

“I was really angry because I had missed the penalty. Everything came out at once after we came back and won,” Messi said, explaining why he broke down in tears after the final whistle.

The Argentine captain said the comeback made the emotions even stronger, as the team had been on the brink of elimination before producing one of the most memorable turnarounds of the tournament. Coach Lionel Scaloni also praised his side’s resilience after they recovered from a two-goal deficit to keep their title defence alive.

Messi’s goal not only helped Argentina level the match but also redeemed him after the earlier penalty miss, with the 38-year-old once again proving decisive on the biggest stage. Argentina will now face either Switzerland or Colombia in the World Cup quarter-finals.