- 1 Argentina vs Egypt: Messi meets Salah in a heavyweight last-16 clash in Atlanta
- 2 La Albiceleste want to protect their status despite the fatigue
- 3 The Pharaohs face the challenge of a lifetime and a defensive headache
- 4 Likely line-ups:
- 5 World Cup 2026 Prediction: Argentina vs Egypt
- 6 First, a word on our predictions
- 7 No commitment from us
- 8 Information can change
- 9 Your role
- 10 Responsible gambling first
- 11 Legal age
- 12 About the visuals
Argentina vs Egypt: Messi meets Salah in a heavyweight last-16 clash in Atlanta 
Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium is set to shake on Tuesday night for a blockbuster last-16 tie between Argentina and Egypt. This is a big-stage clash, but above all it is a meeting everyone has been waiting for: Lionel Messi against Mohamed Salah, two of the biggest names in world football. The defending champions come in as favourites, yet both sides had to dig deep in the previous round and squeeze through ugly, tense traps that went right to the wire.
Argentina were pushed to the brink in the round of 32 against Cape Verde, scraping through 3-2 after extra time thanks to a 111th-minute own goal after being pegged back twice. Egypt, meanwhile, wrote another chapter of history by edging out Australia in a nerve-shredding penalty shootout, sealed by a cheeky Salah Panenka. For the first official World Cup meeting between these sides, the intensity should be off the charts.
La Albiceleste want to protect their status despite the fatigue 
On an impressive run of eight straight wins in all competitions, Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina are still rolling, but that Cape Verde marathon has left its mark physically. Senior figures such as Nahuel Molina, Enzo Fernandez and left-back Facundo Medina, who went off injured, were held back in training. Medina’s issue appears to be only cramp, while Nicolas Tagliafico is ready to start and winger Nico Gonzalez remains a major doubt with an ankle problem.
All eyes will, naturally, be on the ageless Lionel Messi, 39. Argentina’s captain keeps racking up the numbers, becoming the first player to score seven goals in two separate World Cups. With Lautaro Martinez and Thiago Almada alongside him, the Inter Miami magician will be looking to drag his team into the quarter-finals, a stage Argentina have reached in seven of their last nine World Cup attempts.
The Pharaohs face the challenge of a lifetime and a defensive headache 
For Egypt, this last-16 tie is a huge historic moment, 92 years after their last appearance at this stage in 1934. But head coach Hossam Hassan has a real nightmare at the back. Already without Ahmed Fatouh, the Egyptian camp saw their other left-back Karim Hafez go off injured against Australia. To make matters worse, OGC Nice defender Mohamed Abdelmonem, who is carrying an ankle issue, is still highly unlikely to feature in this showdown.
On the plus side, the Pharaohs get a major boost with the return of experienced midfielder Mohanad Lasheen, who has served his suspension. Egypt will lean on heart, grit and a Mohamed Salah who looks determined to carry a nation on his shoulders. Joined by the sharp Omar Marmoush and a hard-working midfield unit featuring Ashour and Ateya, the Egyptian block will need to be heroic to absorb the Argentine waves and punish any slip on the break.
Likely line-ups:
Argentina: E. Martinez ; Molina, Romero, L. Martinez, Medina (or Tagliafico) ; De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister ; Messi, Martinez, Almada
Egypt: Shobeir ; Hany, Fathy, Ibrahim, Rabia ; Ashour, Lasheen, Ateya, Ziko ; Salah, Marmoush
on MathODDS
World Cup 2026 Prediction: Argentina vs Egypt
Egypt to avoid defeat or lose by one goal or less
Argentina may have more firepower on paper, but this last-16 tie could turn out far trickier and tighter than the champions expect. La Albiceleste showed worrying defensive flaws and some serious physical drop-off across 120 minutes against Cape Verde, allowing no fewer than 16 shots. Jaded after all that effort and missing several players at full sharpness, Scaloni’s men may struggle for freshness against Egypt’s physical challenge.
Egypt, by contrast, arrive at this historic fixture with a lift in spirit and confidence sky-high after their heroic penalty shootout win. The Pharaohs know how to suffer without losing their shape, and in Salah they have a constant threat capable of punishing even the smallest mistake from Argentina’s centre-backs in transition. Backed by relentless unity, Salah’s team-mates have enough to rattle the world champions, force extra time or, at worst, keep the margin razor-thin.
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