The Egyptian Football Association formally criticized refereeing and VAR decisions following their dramatic 3-2 round-of-16 defeat to Argentina at the 2026 World Cup, with Egypt's coach alleging the match was rigged to keep Messi and the world champions in the tournament. The controversy centers on a disallowed Egyptian goal that analysts say should have stood.
Argentina advanced in the 2026 World Cup after a controversial match against Egypt featuring disputed VAR decisions, with 39-year-old Lionel Messi leading a dramatic comeback. Egyptian players and coaches protested the officiating, calling the match 'rigged,' while questions about tournament legitimacy emerged amid ongoing controversies involving US President Donald Trump and FIFA chief Gianni Infantino.
Lionel Messi scored twice in Argentina's 2-0 victory over Austria in Dallas, taking his World Cup tally to 17-18 goals and surpassing the previous record to become the tournament's all-time leading scorer. The win secured Argentina's place in the knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo made history by becoming the first male player to score in six World Cups, ending his goal drought with two goals in Portugal's 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan in Houston on June 23, 2026. The performance came amid ongoing comparisons with Lionel Messi, who had scored five goals in his opening two matches.
Cristiano Ronaldo ended his international goal drought with two goals in Portugal's 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan in Houston, becoming the first player to score in six World Cups. After the match, he refused to discuss rival Lionel Messi, who had scored five goals in Argentina's opening two games.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage began with star performances from football's biggest names: Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick as Argentina defeated Algeria 3-0, Kylian Mbappé netted twice in France's 3-1 win over Senegal, and Erling Haaland scored two goals on his World Cup debut as Norway beat Iraq 4-1.
