(Video) Mostafa Shobeir saves Messi penalty to keep Egypt ahead against Argentina

07.07.26 FT World Cup

Argentina

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Egypt

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Egyptian keeper Mostafa Shobeir saved a Lionel Messi penalty in the 20th minute of their World Cup clash in Atlanta, preserving a shock 1-0 lead.

The dramatic sequence unfolded shortly after the Pharaohs stunned the defending champions with an early opener.

the referee pointed to the spot in the 19th minute after Egyptian winger Haitham Hassan clumsily brought down Nicolás Tagliafico inside the penalty area.

The pressure was immense as the Argentine captain stepped up but Shobeir stood tall. Messi's ensuing strike as relatively weak, Shobeir’s excellent anticipation, the keeper read the play perfectly and exploded to his left to palm the ball to safety.

Protecting the Dream

This save was about much more than stopping a football icon, it was about protecting a fragile, historic momentum.

Just minutes earlier, Yasser Ibrahim had given Egypt a 1-0 advantage capitalizing on a pinpoint cross from Marwan Attia to head the ball into the net.

If Argentina had instantly equalized, the psychological blow to Hossam Hassan's squad could have been devastating. Instead, Shobeir’s heroics compounded the frustration for Lionel Scaloni’s side forcing them to continue chasing the game against an increasingly confident African defensive block.

Khaled Hegazy |

Editorar, en

Journaliste sportif spécialisé dans la couverture du football et la création de contenu numérique, alliant expérience éditoriale et expertise des médias sociaux.

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