Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni struggled to contain his emotions while Enzo Fernandez hailed his teammates after their side, inspired by captain Lionel Messi, produced a remarkable late comeback to beat Egypt 3-2 and book their place in the World Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday.

Until the 78th minute, Egypt looked firmly in control, holding a 2-0 lead over Argentina and seemingly cruising into the FIFA World Cup quarterfinals at the Atlanta Stadium on Tuesday.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni struggled to contain his emotions after his side, inspired by their great skipper Lionel Messi, produced a remarkable late comeback to beat Egypt 3-2 and book their place in the World Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday.

True champions are forged in the fires of adversity.

Mostafa Ziko and Yasser Ibrahim were on target for Egypt in a riveting display, but late goals from Cristian Romero, Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernandez -- all after the 78th minute -- saw Argentina stage one of the tournament’s most remarkable comebacks.

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan makes two changes, bringing in forward Haissem Hassan and midfielder Mohanad Lashin for Omar Marmoush and Hamdy Fathy.

An already electric World Cup atmosphere is set to reach a crescendo tonight as two icons of modern football – Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah -- clash in a blockbuster Round of 16 tie at the Atlanta Stadium.

Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah will take centre stage on Tuesday when defending champions Argentina face Egypt in their last-16 clash at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, with both sides given little time to recover from exhausting Round-of-32 battles.

Argentina and Egypt will meet at the World Cup for the first time.

A World Cup is often a child’s very first introduction to the concept of a setback, wrapped in the safe environment of sport.

What is a World Cup if not a collection of stories to remember? The making of fairy tales, the emergence of the unlikeliest heroes, and the crushing weight of the harshest realities, all mixed into one cauldron, brewing stories to be remembered for a lifetime.

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan said at the World Cup on Monday that the suffering of the Palestinian people was a "shame on the world" as he called on football to do more to come to their aid.

Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni said sides should be given more rest in the final stages of the World Cup as the defending champions face a gruelling schedule in the knockout phases.

France striker Kylian Mbappe hit back at a Paraguayan senator, describing her as a "despicable woman" on Monday after she launched a racist attack on him following Paraguay's elimination from the World Cup.

Belgium did not spend the night trying to revisit those debates. They simply demonstrated that while power can influence headlines, it cannot guarantee outcomes.

“Like I said, I think there was always a justice somewhere in life and the fact that something can happen like that, you can put it all you want, but we don't think that was fair,” Raskin told reporters.

A 2-1 defeat to Norway in the World Cup last-16, inspired by two clinical strikes from Erling Haaland, has ensured that the five-time champions will wait at least 28 years for a sixth crown.

The game had been overshadowed by FIFA's reprieve for US forward Folarin Balogun after a red card in his previous match, but he was unable to make an impact as the Belgians ran out easy winners in Seattle.

"For me, Lamine has played one of the most important matches of his life," de la Fuente said. "Beyond whether he was brilliant or not, for me it has been one of the matches that will help him grow the most."

Cristiano Ronaldo spent more than two decades deciding matches, dragging teams through difficult moments and defying time itself to remain among soccer's elite even past his Real Madrid, Manchester United and Juventus prime.