Argentina’s captain Lionel Messi admitted he breathed a sigh of relief after he equalised for the team in the dying minutes of the game against Egypt in the round of 16 clash in the ongoing FIFA World Cup at Atlanta on Tuesday. 

Messi missed a penalty in the 20th minute as squandered a chance to equalise after Yasser Ibrahim scored from a header in the 15th minute to give Egypt the lead.

However, Messi was at his absolute best when Argentina needed him the most in the last 15 minutes of the game. La Pulga provided an assist to Cristian Romero in the 79th minute and then himself scored after four minutes to equalise for La Albiceleste.

In the 93rd minute, Enzo Fernandez scored the match-winning goal from a header to help Argentina qualify for the quarterfinals and bounce back for the first time while trailing by 0-2 in World Cup finals.

“The truth is that it was a moment of release, a release for all of us,” Messi said after the game. “I was feeling intense anger because of the penalty I wasted, and because of the way I took it. I felt like in that important moment, I had let the team down.

“But fortunately, God had something special in store for me once again in the end, and I was able to score the equalizer.

“That was a huge release, and immense joy for us, and for those fans who came again and prove every day what it means to be Argentine, and how much pride they give us.”

Lautaro Martinez was all praise for the way Messi led his team when they had their backs against the wall.

“[Messi’s leadership] is reflected on the pitch. Everything he shows us on a day-to-day basis I will save for myself but he’s incredible. He’s our guide, our inspiration, our leader,” Lautaro Martínez said after the game. “Today, watching his run like that and in the end seeing him emotional, I told him on the field to enjoy it because he deserves it.

“I told him we would give everything for ourselves, but more for him because it’s his last World Cup and he’s given us a lot.”

Argentina will face Switzerland in the quarterfinal on July 11 in Kansas City, Missouri.