Argentine Lionel Messi (10) (AP Photo)
Argentina’s dramatic victory over Egypt in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 received praise from across the football world, with Swedish legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic expressing his particular admiration for Lionel Messi after another decisive display in the match.The defending champion appeared on the verge of a surprise exit after falling behind 2-0 in the 67th minute. But Argentina responded in an amazing way and scored three goals in 13 minutes through Christian Romero, Messi and Enzo Fernandez to secure a dramatic 3-2 victory and reserve their place in the quarter-finals.Despite missing a penalty in the first half, Messi again performed well when it mattered most, scoring the crucial equalizer before inspiring a late conversion for Argentina.Speaking on Fox Sports after the match, Ibrahimovic said that Messi raised his level when his team needed him most.“He became an animal, and no one could catch him. He kept going, and going, and…, and that’s what I saw, we got used to seeing it, and we still see it. So, you can also see how emotional he was, how important it was to him. Remember, he’s already won the World Cup. He’s already won a lot of trophies, a lot of Ballon d’Or, the best player in the world of the year.”
Everything. I could sit here and give him his resume and… and it looks perfect, but he still wants it.
He still wants it and that’s admirable. Look at him.”Messi’s goal also made him continue his exceptional career in the biggest football tournament.The Argentina captain has now scored in nine consecutive FIFA World Cup matches, becoming the first player in the tournament’s history to achieve this feat. His goal against Egypt was his eighth goal in the current edition, making it his highest in a World Cup.The goal also increased Messi’s all-time World Cup record to 21 goals and made him the first player to score in six consecutive matches in the tournament’s knockout stages.The 39-year-old also equaled Guillermo Stabile’s long-standing Argentina record of eight goals in a single World Cup, which was first set in 1930.Away from goal, Messi produced another complete attacking performance. He became only the second Argentine player after Diego Maradona to score, complete at least five dribbles and create five or more chances from open play in a World Cup match.It was an especially memorable show given the rocky start to his evening. Messi saw a penalty kick in the first half, becoming the first player to miss two penalty kicks in the same World Cup, excluding penalty kicks. Throughout his career, he has now missed four penalty kicks in a FIFA World Cup, the most of any player in the history of the competition.However, even after that setback, Messi once again proved decisive, helping Argentina pull off one of the greatest comebacks in World Cup history and keep their hopes of defending the title alive.
