Lionel Messi admitted he felt he had “left the group” after missing a first-half penalty against Egypt before playing a decisive role in Argentina’s remarkable comeback to reach the FIFA World Cup quarter finals The defending champions looked on the brink of elimination after falling 2-0 behind in the 67th minute of their Round of 16 clash. However, goals from Cristian Romero, Messi and Enzo Fernandez in the space of 13 minutes completed a stunning turnaround and secured a dramatic 3-2 win. Messi’s missed penalty earlier in the contest had threatened to prove costly. The Argentina captain was denied from the spot by Egyptian goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir, marking the fourth non-shootout penalty miss of his FIFA World Cup career, the most by any player in the tournament’s history. Reflecting on the emotional roller coaster after the match, Messi admitted he was very frustrated by the miss and feared he had let his team-mates down. “Yes, really it was a relief, a relief for everyone. As I said, I was very angry for the missed penalty, for how I kicked it. I felt that in an important moment I had left the group, and well, luckily, God returned something special in reserve for me at the end. I was able to score the equalizing goal, a great relief and came once again for these very great people and showed once more. every day what it is, what we are as Argentines, the pride that gives us and nothing, very happy.“ Messi also credited Argentina’s fighting spirit, saying the team’s refusal to give up had once again carried them through a difficult situation. “I’ve said it many times, and I repeat it often. This is a team that competes, that always gives everything, that never gives up, never gives up.” Argentina endured a frustrating opening hour after Egypt stunned the favorites with Yasser Ibrahim’s 15th-minute header. Messi then saw his penalty saved by Shobeir, who went on to produce more outstanding stops to deny Alexis MacAllister and Julian Alvarez. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner also hit the crossbar with a free-kick as Argentina trailed 1-0 at the break. Egypt thought they had doubled their lead early in the second half through Mostafa Ziko, but the goal was ruled out following a VAR review. The Pharaohs made it 2-0 in the 67th minute when Ziko finished off a quick counterattack after good work from Mohamed Salah and Haissem Hassan. Argentina responded in spectacular fashion. Romero headed home Messi’s 79th-minute free-kick to spark the comeback before the captain produced the equalizer four minutes later with a fierce strike from outside the area that went off the goalkeeper’s gloves and off the underside of the crossbar. With extra time just around the corner, Fernandez completed the comeback in stoppage time, firing a low finish into the bottom corner to send Argentina to the quarter-finals, where they will face Switzerland on July 12.