«Look at his tears»: Thierry Henry analyzes Messi's performance
According to Championat.
Context
Lionel Messi, captain of the Argentine national team, continues to be a central figure in the team, especially after his impactful performance against Egypt. His ability to influence the game, even after moments of adversity, reinforces his importance for Argentina in the 2026 World Cup. Messi's relationship with Thierry Henry, his former Barcelona teammate, also highlights the pressure and expectations that surround the player in this decisive phase of the tournament.
Why this matters
Argentina's victory over Egypt in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup is crucial for the team's morale, especially with the pressure on Lionel Messi. His performance, which included an assist and a decisive goal, demonstrates his ability to overcome challenges, even after missing a penalty. This kind of resilience is vital to Argentina's success in the competition, especially with the 2026 World Cup approaching.
Main conclusions
- «Notice his tears»: Thierry Henry analyzes Messi's performance.
- Thierry Henry highlighted Lionel Messi's response after missing a penalty in the Argentina-Egypt of the 2026 World Cup, highlighting the emotional importance of the triumph and remembering the Argentine's competitive side: «don't wake the beast».
- Лионель Месси remains central to Argentina's plans.
Thierry Henry, world champion in 1998 and Europe in 2000 with the French team, analyzed Lionel Messi's performance in Argentina's victory over Egypt (3-2), in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup. The Albiceleste captain missed a penalty, but ended up scoring an assist and scoring the goal that helped seal passage to the quarter-finals.
“First of all, look at his tears — they show how important this result is for him and for the team”, highlighted Henry, quoted by Argentine journalist Verónica Brunati on the social network
Henry, who shared a dressing room with Messi at Barcelona, also recalled an illustrative episode of the number 10's competitiveness. “Don't wake up the beast”, he suggested, explaining that, when something upsets him — like an unmarked foul in training —, the Argentine changes his outlook, picks up the ball and is capable of scoring several goals in a row. “Then he turns around and says: ‘Next time, point out the foul’”, reported the Frenchman, to reinforce the idea that, in this state, he is practically unstoppable.
The former French international also admitted that Messi “was not always equally active in all phases of the game”, but stressed that, when the team needs it, he takes the ball, faces opponents in series and tries, alone, to change the course of the match. Against Egypt, after the wasted penalty, the captain responded with personality: first he served a teammate for a goal and later added his name to the list of scorers, completing a night of suffering, redemption and leadership.
With the 3-2 victory in the round of 16, the Argentine team guaranteed their place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup, where they will face Switzerland. Albiceleste, world champion in 2022, continues in search of another title, now in the tournament organized by the United States, Mexico and Canada. Messi's performance, made up of mistakes, reaction and emotion, once again served as a barometer for Lionel Scaloni's team at a stage in which every detail weighs on elimination.
The words of Henry, one of the most respected voices in world football, help to contextualize the Argentine captain's night: human in failure, giant in response. And, for the Frenchman, this competitive streak — learned closely during his time at Camp Nou — continues to define Messi on the biggest stages.
What happens next
With progress to the quarter-finals, Argentina will have the opportunity to continue their quest for the title at the 2026 World Cup. The focus now will be on maintaining form and confidence, especially for Messi, who was emotionally invested in the victory. The team will need to prepare for their next opponent, where Messi's experience and competitiveness will be crucial to their performance.
Frequently asked questions
What was the result of the game between Argentina and Egypt at the 2026 World Cup?
Argentina beat Egypt 3-2.
How does Argentina's victory over Egypt impact the 2026 World Cup table?
The victory allowed Argentina to advance to the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup.
Who analyzed Messi's performance in the game against Egypt?
Thierry Henry analyzed Lionel Messi's performance.
What was Messi's contribution in the game against Egypt?
Messi missed a penalty, but made an assist and scored a goal.
What is Argentina's next game at the 2026 World Cup?
Argentina's next game will be in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup.