Messi and Salah set to clash in World Cup round of 16 showdown

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(COMBO) This combination of file photo created on July 5, 2026, shows Egypt’s forward #10 Mohamed Salah in Agadir on January 5, 2026 (L); and Argentina’s forward #10 Lionel Messi in Kansas City on June 16, 2026. Argentina and Egypt will meet in a 2026 World Cup round of 16 football at the Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta on July 7, 2026. (Photo by Franck FIFE and Roberto SCHMIDT / AFP)

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Lionel Messi’s Argentina face Egypt for a place in the World Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday as the maestro looks to reclaim the lead in a fiercely contested Golden Boot race.

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The defending champions meet the African nation, spearheaded by Mohamed Salah, in Atlanta for the right to play Switzerland or Colombia in the semi-finals.

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Argentina survived a huge scare from World Cup first-timers Cape Verde in the last 32, edging through courtesy of Diney Borges’ own goal in energy-sapping extra time.

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They will hope to resume normal service against Egypt, who have never been beyond the round of 16 on football’s biggest stage.

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“We are on the alert just like we were before the match against Cape Verde,” said Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni. “Egypt is also a good rival.

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“It’s a very good team. They have important players and a coach that has been working with them for a while now. They play good football and always make it difficult for their rivals.

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“Salah is a great player — it will be a pleasure to face him. Our team knows how to face these great players and we always work hard for it.”

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Scaloni confirmed Messi, 39, is fit to start despite playing the full 120 minutes last week against Cape Verde.

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Messi, France star Kylian Mbappe and Norway’s Erling Haaland all have seven goals in the race for the Golden Boot, with the Frenchman leading the way due to his two assists.

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Messi and Mbappe are also locked in a battle for the title of leading goalscorer in World Cup history, with the Argentine just one goal ahead, on 20.

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The South Americans know they will need to up their game against unbeaten Egypt, who eliminated Australia on penalties in the last 32.

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Salah, currently without a club after leaving Liverpool, has scored just once in four matches so far.

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Egypt coach Hossam Hassan said he had been preparing his players “regardless of the colour of the opponent’s shirt, or what name they have, and what ranking they have”.

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“This is a World Cup, a great opportunity to prove ourselves and that we belong here,” he said.

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– Dangerous Diaz –

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Switzerland and Colombia meet in Vancouver in another clash between two unbeaten teams.

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The South Americans, supported by hordes of passionate yellow-clad fans, have been tipped as dark horses for the tournament.

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Nestor Lorenzo’s men have conceded just one goal so far and boast the attacking prowess of Luis Diaz and 2014 World Cup Golden Boot winner James Rodriguez.

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Switzerland have not reached the quarter-finals since 1954, when they hosted the tournament, but impressed in a 2-0 win against Algeria in the last 32.

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All four teams will be vying to join the heavyweight line-up for the last eight so far — France, Morocco, Norway, England, Spain and Belgium.

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Spain ended Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup dream on Monday, beating Portugal 1-0 while Belgium crushed the United States 4-1.

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Defeat for Mauricio Pochettino’s men means none of the host nations remain in the 2026 tournament following the earlier exits of Canada and Mexico.

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The build-up to the game in Seattle was overshadowed by controversy after forward Folarin Balogun was cleared to play despite being sent off against Bosnia and Herzegovina last week.

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It emerged that the bombshell ruling followed a personal call by President Donald Trump to FIFA chief Gianni Infantino urging him to review Balogun’s punishment.

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Javier Tebas, the president of the Spanish football federation, on Tuesday attacked the reprieve.

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Posting on social media, he called the decision “the tip of the iceberg of a governance model that has been eroding the credibility of FIFA and football in general for many years.”

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He said that while the football world could see what was happening “far too many prefer to maintain a complicit silence.”

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