‘Messi Became an Animal Nobody Could Stop’ – Ibrahimovic Hails Argentina Captain’s Heroics Against Egypt
Former Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimović has praised Lionel Messi for producing another match-winning performance after Argentina's dramatic comeback victory over Egypt in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The defending champions looked to be heading for a shock exit after Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Zico gave the Pharaohs a commanding 2-0 lead.
However, Argentina mounted a stunning recovery as Cristian Romero pulled one back before Messi levelled the contest. Enzo Fernández then completed the turnaround with the winning goal, sending Argentina into the quarter-finals.
Reacting to the thrilling encounter, Ibrahimović said Messi's mentality changed completely once Argentina fell two goals behind, describing the captain as a player on a mission.
"You could see when it was 0-2, something changed. The moment he took the ball, he started dribbling past players and creating chances.
"He was after something. He is on a mission now. He didn't want to leave this tournament. He created the first goal, then scored the second, and finally somebody else got the winner.
"He switched gear, he became an animal, and nobody could catch him. You could see how emotional he is and how much it means to him. Remember, he has already won the World Cup, Ballon d'Ors, FIFA awards—everything."
Messi's goal against Egypt also moved him to the top of the tournament's Golden Boot standings with eight goals as Argentina continue their title defence.
Opinion
The greatest players are often judged not by how they perform when everything is going well, but by how they respond when their teams are in serious trouble. Against Egypt, Messi embodied that principle.
Whether Ibrahimović's description of Messi as "an animal" is taken literally or metaphorically, it captures the intensity with which the Argentine captain attacked the game after falling behind. If he maintains that level of influence, Argentina will remain one of the strongest favourites to lift the World Cup once again.
