Аргентин гайхамшигт эргэн ирэлтээр шөвгийн наймд шалгарлаа

By the end, it felt inevitable — but Lionel Messi and Argentina’s World Cup comeback to beat Egypt was statistically improbable.

The champions were two goals down in the 78th minute before scoring three goals in quick succession, the latest any side has mounted a fightback from that scoreline in the tournament’s history. When Cristian Romero’s header made it 2-1 in the 79th minute, statistics provider Opta gave them just a 0.6 per cent chance of winning.

But that’s what they did, writing themselves into the history books with one of the great comebacks and booking their place in the quarter-finals, where they will face Switzerland.

Can anything else top it? Here, our writers make the case for what is the greatest World Cup comeback… and pick out one which almosttook that title.

Argentina 3 Egypt 2, 2026 round of 16

You are always on shaky ground when you put anything from modern World Cups up against past editions, because you are arguing with beloved history, and some of the best comebacks tie in with World Cup heritage.

Eusebio scoring four goals against North Korea 5-3 in 1966. The 1982 semi-final where Harald Schumacher wiped out Patrick Battiston. But look, this one is history in the making.

One day, we will be reminiscing about Messi’s tears at the final whistle, telling our children and grandchildren about the greatest player of all time. This game was not all about Messi, in fact it was not even all about Argentina. Egypt were brilliant and the way they recovered from the VAR drama to score a second played its part in this spectacle.

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Argentina’s resilience and fighting spirit, which they have in abundance, was always going to give them a chance when Romero pulled one back. Messi’s pristine half-volley extended his lead at the top of the all-time scoring charts and then Enzo Fernandez’s perfect header, another goal on the counter-attack, completed the drama. There was even a quite magnificent tackle towards the end.

As much as Egypt will not like it, the controversy surrounding their disallowed goal, and Argentina’s non-disallowed goal, is part of the story, and will be remembered forever, too. This is what the World Cup is all about.

Sam Lee

Belgium 3 Japan 2, 2018 round of 16

Poor Japan. That’s how I felt when I walked away from the Rostov Arena in Russia in the early hours of the morning.

Japan played so well for so long against Belgium’s ‘golden generation’, who found themselves two goals down with 21 minutes remaining. Jan Vertonghen pulled one back — and that first goal always feels like the key — and then Marouane Fellaini got another. It had turned into a basketball game.

Another classic Belgium comeback on this day in 2018 🇧🇪#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/hrMn17CA1Q

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 2, 2026

Deep into stoppage time, the Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois claimed a corner. Eleven seconds later, Nacer Chadli tapped the ball into the back of the net at the other end — a wonderful counter-attack that completed a remarkable turnaround, as Belgium became the first team to come from two goals down to win a World Cup knockout match since 1970.

Stuart James

West Germany 3 England 2, 1970 quarter-final (AET)

To England fans of a certain age, their quarter-final defeat to West Germany in 1970 is one of the most dramatic comebacks of all time.

England were 2-0 up and cruising in Leon with just 22 minutes left. But Franz Beckenbauer pulled one back, driving a shot from distance through the arms of goalkeeper Peter Bonetti, who was only playing because Gordon Banks was ill. To this day there are still conspiracy theories about how Banks, who had produced that famous save against Pele in the group stage, missed the game.

With eight minutes left, Uwe Seeler looped a clever header over a stranded Bonetti. Gerd Muller’s close range volley completed the turnaround in extra-time. England fans were so miserable that they surprisingly voted out the government of Harold Wilson a few days later. West Germany went on to lose 4-3 to Italy in the ‘Game of the Century’ in the semi-final.

Jack Pitt-Brooke

North Korea 3 Portugal 5, 1966 quarter-final

North Korea were based in Middlesbrough during their first World Cup appearance in 1966. Despite the Cold War, it sparked a love affair between the north-east industrial town and a team from a communist dictatorship. The 1,000-1 outsiders caused a stir in their final group game at Ayresome Park, with Pak Doo-ik scoring the only goal to eliminate two-time world champions Italy.

Like Middlesbrough’s football team, North Korea wore red. They were unfailingly polite too. And good to watch. Their speed on the break inspired 3,000 Boro fans to travel to Goodison Park to cheer them on in the quarter-final against Portugal.

In the first minute, they were ahead. It was 2-0 after 22 minutes. Just as the crowd began chanting, “We want three”, it arrived after 25 minutes. And then came greatness.

Eusebio, who rivalled Pele and Bobby Charlton as the best player on the planet at the time, scored four times as Portugal won 5-3.

The bond between Middlesbrough and North Korea lasts to this day. In 2003, members of the 1966 team returned to raptures in the Riverside Stadium and in 2010, Middlesbrough’s women’s side played two friendlies in Pyongyang.

Peter Carline

West Germany 3 Hungary 2, 1954 final

The Hungary team of 1954 is regarded as one of the greatest international sides in history and one of the best not to win the World Cup. It took a herculean effort of resilience to deny them the crown.

Hungary were unbeaten in 31 matches and had thrashed West Germany 8-3 in the group stage, so when they took a two-goal lead inside eight minutes thanks to the great Ferenc Puskas and Zoltan Czibor, only one outcome seemed plausible.

But the West Germans picked themselves off the floor, scored two goals in the next 10 minutes to draw level and survived 26 shots across the encounter. Then, in the 84th minute, Helmut Rahn scored the winner, his second of the match, to ensure the “Miracle of Bern” would forever be remembered in World Cup folklore.

George Edwards

Austria 7 Switzerland 5, 1954 quarter-final

This remains the highest-scoring match in World Cup history and ranks as one of its most dramatic, too — with Austria fighting back from three goals down to advance to the semi-finals at the expense of the host nation.

With temperatures above 40C (104F), nine goals were scored in the space of 23 first-half minutes — a sequence of play that first saw Switzerland go three up before Austria netted five times without reply. Then, the Swiss pulled one back to go in at the break 5-4 down.

Austria, who were playing in their first World Cup after being forced to withdraw from the 1938 edition as a result of being annexed into Nazi Germany, eventually beat their neighbours 7-5 — with the match the last time a player from both teams scored a hat-trick in a World Cup game: Theodor Wagner for Austria and Josef Hugi for Switzerland.

Will Jeanes

West Germany 3 France 3 (West Germany won 5-4 on penalties after extra time), 1982 semi-final

France seemed to have broken West Germany in extra time.

Pierre Littbarski and Michel Platini exchanged first-half goals before West Germany goalkeeper Schumacher’s brutal collision with substitute Battiston left the Frenchman unconscious, missing teeth and with serious rib and spinal injuries. No foul was awarded and a goal kick was given to the Germans.

The brutal clash between Harald Schumacher and Patrick Battiston (picture alliance via Getty Images)

Manuel Amoros hit the bar before defender Marius Tresor’s volley and Alain Giresse’s finish off the post swept France 3-1 ahead. Their first World Cup final was suddenly within touching distance. Then, injured substitute Karl-Heinz Rummenigge pulled one back and Klaus Fischer’s overhead kick made it 3-3.

In the first penalty shootout in World Cup history, Schumacher saved from Didier Six and Maxime Bossis before Horst Hrubesch converted the decisive kick. West Germany reached the final and France were left with the bitterness of the “Night of Seville”, a match they had seemingly won before it was torn away.

Amelie Claydon

And the greatest comeback that never was… Argentina 3 France 3 (Argentina win on penalties 4-2 AET), 2022 final

This final was one for the ages — it’s almost too recent to be fully appreciated. It was one of the best games of all time, period, and very nearly the greatest ever comeback.

France seemed dead and buried heading into the final 15 minutes, 2-0 down against Messi’s Argentina. But, led by the talismanic Kylian Mbappe, they fought back with two late goals. Mbappe’s equaliser, a sweetly struck volley while falling backwards, is one of the best World Cup goals of all time, even outside the context of this game.

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France then again came from a goal down to level in extra time and were inches away from winning the game 4-3, only for an outstanding sprawling save from Emiliano Martinez to deny Randal Kolo Muani a 123rd-minute goal.

Argentina’s penalty shootout victory made it feel like the trophy was cosmically destined to be theirs, no matter the best efforts of Mbappe and his France team. Every ebb and flow, every decisive moment that was then overwritten, were felt by a wild crowd at Lusail Stadium in Qatar, and it was a privilege to experience in person.

Luke Bosher