Defending champions Argentina came from 2-0 down to beat Egypt 3-2 on Tuesday, keeping Lionel Messi’s World Cup dream alive and booking a place in the quarter-finals.

Egypt looked set for a famous victory after Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Ziko scored either side of a saved Messi penalty to give the Pharaohs a two-goal lead in Atlanta.

Argentina, however, mounted a dramatic late comeback. Cristian Romero pulled one back before Messi equalised with his eighth goal of the tournament. Enzo Fernández then headed home the winner in the closing stages to complete a remarkable turnaround.

Messi’s goal extended his scoring streak to nine consecutive World Cup matches and moved him back to the top of the tournament’s Golden Boot race despite earlier missing a penalty.

The victory sends Argentina into the World Cup quarter-finals, where they will face either Colombia or Switzerland, while Egypt bow out after coming close to one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.