When Tom Brady compares something to his legendary 28-3 Super Bowl comeback, you know you’re dealing with an all-time sports moment. And that’s exactly what happened when the NFL icon watched Lionel Messi and Argentina stage an improbable World Cup resurrection against Egypt on Tuesday in Atlanta.
Down 2-0 late in their Round of 16 matchup, Argentina looked cooked. The script seemed written for an early exit. But Messi had other plans. A goal in the 79th minute cracked the dam open, Messi himself tied it up moments later, and then Enzo Fernandez sealed the deal two minutes into stoppage time to send Egypt packing and book a quarter-final spot.
Brady couldn’t help himself. He took to social media to share his reaction, and his verdict was something that’ll stick with fans:“Yeah so that might top 28-3.”For those keeping score at home, that’s Brady referencing the New England Patriots’34-28 overtime win against the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI—widely considered the greatest single-game comeback in sports history.
Here’s where it gets interesting, though. The comeback itself was absolutely wild, no question. But the broader sports conversation reveals a split. Soccer purists and die-hard fans are all in on the comparison—the drama, the desperation, the execution under pressure. Others pump the brakes, arguing that since this wasn’t a championship-deciding game, it doesn’t carry the same weight as a Super Bowl victory. Fair point, but tell that to the Argentina supporters who watched their team claw back from the brink of elimination in a World Cup.
Whether it tops Brady’s legendary night depends entirely on how you measure greatness. But one thing’s certain: when two of the biggest names in their respective sports are talking about the same moment, you know something special happened on that field in Atlanta.
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Ava Hart
Ava Hart is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
