No previous meetings between these teams.
-
1
Lionel Messi7 - 2
Emam Ashour2 - 3Trezeguet1
- 4Mohamed Salah1
- 5Lautaro Martínez1
- 6Lisandro Martínez1
- 7Mahmoud Saber1
- 8Mostafa Zico1
- 9Giovani Lo Celso1
- 1Lionel Messi24
- 2Omar Marmoush11
- 3Emam Ashour10
- 4Mohamed Salah9
- 5Mostafa Zico7
- 6Enzo Fernández6
- 7Trezeguet6
- 8Marwan Attia4
- 9Lautaro Martínez4
- 10Alexis Mac Allister4
- 1Mohanad Lasheen10
- 2Mohamed Hany9
- 3Alexis Mac Allister7
- 4Yasser Ibrahim6
- 5Facundo Medina6
- 6Enzo Fernández5
- 7Ahmed Fatouh5
- 8Lionel Messi5
- 9Thiago Almada4
- 10Marwan Attia3
- 1Mohamed Salah2
- 2Rodrigo De Paul1
- 3Trezeguet1
- 4Karim Hafez1
- 5Alexis Mac Allister1
- 6Lisandro Martínez1
- 7Mohamed Hany1
- 8Facundo Medina1
- 9Mostafa Zico1
- 10Nico González1
- 1Mohamed Salah16
- 2Lionel Messi9
- 3Mostafa Zico5
- 4Marwan Attia4
- 5Ahmed Fatouh4
- 6Mohamed Hany4
- 7Emam Ashour4
- 8Alexis Mac Allister3
- 9Omar Marmoush3
- 10Enzo Fernández2
- 1Marwan Attia268
- 2Lisandro Martínez249
- 3Alexis Mac Allister245
- 4Enzo Fernández229
- 5Cristian Romero223
- 6Yasser Ibrahim215
- 7Leandro Paredes200
- 8Ramy Rabia198
- 9Mohamed Hany179
- 10Rodrigo De Paul163
- 1Omar Marmoush8
- 2Mohamed Salah6
- 3Trezeguet5
- 4Lionel Messi5
- 5Enzo Fernández3
- 6Thiago Almada3
- 7Ahmed Fatouh3
- 8Emam Ashour3
- 9Marwan Attia2
- 10Nico Paz2
- 1Cristian Romero5
- 2Exequiel Palacios5
- 3Alexis Mac Allister5
- 4Mohamed Hany5
- 5Mohanad Lasheen4
- 6Nicolás Otamendi4
- 7Enzo Fernández3
- 8Marwan Attia3
- 9Rodrigo De Paul3
- 10Ahmed Fatouh3
Argentina- Nico Paz
- Lionel Messi
- Gonzalo Montiel
- Thiago Almada
Egypt- Ahmed Fatouh
- Mohamed Abdelmonem
Argentina face Egypt in the stand-out Round of 16 fixture at the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday. Kick-off is scheduled for 5pm (UK time) on Tuesday 7th July at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta.
The defending champions needed extra time to see off Cape Verde 3-2 in the Round of 32 – a nervy performance that raised questions about Argentina’s ability to cruise through this bracket. Lionel Messi scored his 20th World Cup goal and became the first player in history to score in eight consecutive World Cup games, but the extra-time exertions leave Argentina carrying physical fatigue into Tuesday. Egypt arrive having beaten Australia on penalties in one of the Round of 32’s most dramatic finishes – their first ever World Cup knockout victory – setting up a mouth-watering clash between the world’s most decorated player and the African continent’s greatest-ever footballer.
Argentina vs Egypt predictions & betting tips
| Our Prediction | Odds & Bookmaker | Confidence | Why We’re Backing It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lionel Messi to have 2 or more shots on target | 13/8 @ bet365 (38.1%) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Messi is the tournament’s most prolific individual threat and arrives in Atlanta having scored in every knockout fixture so far. He averages 3.1 shots per game at this World Cup and carries a finishing instinct that shows no sign of fading at 39 years old. Egypt will sit deep and absorb pressure, which historically creates the half-spaces and set-piece situations where Messi does his greatest damage. He registered two shots on target in the narrow win over Cape Verde. Against a defence facing a player of this quality for the first time, two or more shots on target looks well within reach. |
| Mohamed Salah to be fouled 3 or more times | 10/3 @ bet365 (21.1%) | ⭐⭐ | Salah arrived at this tournament in the form of his career and has been Egypt’s most fouled player throughout the group stage. Argentina’s fullbacks push aggressively high up the pitch, which creates space behind them for Salah to exploit on the counter. Nahuel Molina or Facundo Medina will be tasked with tracking him — a physical and tactical battle that almost certainly ends with repeated cynical interventions. Argentina conceded eight fouls per game on average during the group stage. Salah drawing three or more fouls across 90 minutes against the world champions reflects both his quality and Argentina’s aggressive defensive approach. |
Odds correct at time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
How both teams head into Argentina vs Egypt
Argentina
Argentina needed extra time and an own goal to beat Cape Verde 3-2 in the Round of 32 – a result that was far closer than the defending champions would have wanted. Messi scored the opener with a finish of devastating precision, but Cape Verde equalised and took the game to extra time before Cristian Romero’s header deflected in off Diney Borges to seal an unconvincing victory. The physical and psychological toll of extra time adds a significant variable to Tuesday’s preparations.
Scaloni’s side are bidding to become the first back-to-back world champions since Brazil in 1958 and 1962. That context places enormous expectation on a squad that remains capable of extraordinary moments but has not yet found its most convincing form at this tournament. The depth of talent available – Alvarez, De Paul, Mac Allister and Enzo Fernandez alongside Messi – means Argentina retain the quality to beat any side in the world on their best day.
Scaloni will demand a more controlled performance than the one that barely saw off Cape Verde. Egypt offer a different kind of challenge – organised, physical and built around a superstar who thrives on the counter. Tuesday will test whether Argentina can impose their game on an opponent who does not fear them.
Egypt
Egypt arrive in Atlanta having already achieved the most significant result in their country’s World Cup history. A 1-1 draw after extra time against Australia ended 4-2 in Egypt’s favour on penalties – the Pharaohs’ first-ever World Cup knockout victory and their first appearance in the last 16 since 1934. Coach Hossam Hassan’s side have defied every expectation placed upon them at this tournament, and they carry the belief of an entire continent into Tuesday’s fixture.
Salah’s fitness remains the burning question surrounding Egypt’s campaign. He was substituted in the 57th minute against Iran during the group stage and has been carefully managed ever since. Egypt insist he is fit for Tuesday – and if he starts and lasts the duration, they possess the individual quality to threaten Argentina on the counter at a level very few sides at this tournament can match.
Egypt have conceded just twice across four matches and defend with tremendous collective organisation. Their route to Atlanta has involved a group stage draw with Belgium, a win over New Zealand, draws with Iran, and an extraordinary penalty shootout win over Australia. Hassan has built a side that competes with maximum effort in every minute – and against an Argentina squad carrying the fatigue of extra time, that relentless work rate could prove decisive.
Argentina team news
Scaloni carries no confirmed injury concerns beyond the physical effects of extra time against Cape Verde. Emiliano Martínez continues in goal behind a back four of Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez and Facundo Medina. Romero has been Argentina’s defensive cornerstone throughout – his aerial quality and reading of the game will be crucial against Egypt’s direct approach.
De Paul, Mac Allister, Enzo Fernández and Thiago Almada are expected in midfield. Messi and Lautaro Martínez lead the attack. Julián Álvarez starts from the bench having featured in a wider role against Cape Verde – his impact from the bench could again prove significant if Egypt keep Argentina at bay in normal time.
Egypt team news
Salah’s involvement remains the most significant team news question in Atlanta. Egypt’s medical team have been cautiously optimistic following his early substitution against Iran, and he played every minute in the game against Australia. He is expected to lead the attack on Tuesday, but his availability for the full 90 minutes remains in doubt.
Mohamed El Shenawy continues in goal behind a back four of Ahmed Fatouh, Mohamed Abdelmonem, Yasser Ibrahim and Mohamed Hany. Hamdy Fathy and Emam Ashour anchor the midfield, providing the defensive platform that has made Egypt so difficult to break down. Trézéguet and Ibrahim Adel provide wide options around Salah, with Omar Marmoush offering an alternative focal point if Salah cannot complete the game.
Head-to-Head
Argentina and Egypt have met once previously, a friendly fixture in 2008. Argentina won 2-0 in that meeting. Tuesday’s Round of 16 in Atlanta marks the first competitive meeting between the two nations. For Egypt, facing the world champions with a quarter-final place at stake represents an occasion almost beyond comprehension for a nation that was absent from the World Cup for 56 years before 2026. For Argentina, it is simply the next step on the road to defending their title.
Which side will advance to the quarter-final?
Argentina enter Tuesday as heavy favourites, but Egypt have already beaten every expectation placed upon them at this tournament. The winner faces Switzerland or Colombia in the quarter-finals in Atlanta. The greatest South American player and the greatest African player will share the same pitch with a World Cup quarter-final at stake. Messi vs Salah is the individual narrative that will define coverage of Tuesday’s fixture around the globe.
We’re backing Messi to produce another moment of genius in Atlanta. 13/8 at bet365 for Messi to have 2 or more shots on target reflects his outstanding tournament form and his ability to find space even against the most organised defensive blocks.
For a bolder play, Salah to be fouled 3 or more times at 10/3 with bet365 reflects his counter-attacking threat, Argentina’s aggressive defensive approach and the inevitability of cynical intervention when a player of his quality runs at World Cup defenders.
Read more:
