The Egypt-Argentina clash is not only about a place in the World Cup quarter-finals; it also features a special duel between two captains with major influence on and off the pitch.
Messi enters the match after helping Argentina survive a difficult test against Cape Verde, adding another goal to strengthen his presence among the tournament’s leading scorers.
Mohamed Salah, meanwhile, has returned from a hamstring scare and continues to play a key leadership role in Egypt’s historic knockout-stage run.
Egypt will rely on Salah’s experience and ability to make the difference in space, while Argentina lean on Messi’s control, passing and timing between the lines.
The match is a major mental test for both sides: Egypt are chasing a historic upset, while Argentina are defending their title under pressure after the Cape Verde scare.