Argentina faces Egypt in World Cup Round of 16; Messi eyes scoring record

Argentina and Egypt clash in the Round of 16 on July 7, 2026, with Postimees providing live blog coverage. The match pits Argentina's formidable offense, led by Lionel Messi, against an underdog Egyptian side that has shown resilience.

Argentina's previous match against Cape Verde was a nail-biter. After taking a 29th-minute lead, they conceded an equalizer in the second half. The game went into extra time, with Argentina regaining the lead only for Cape Verde to equalize again in the 103rd minute. A last-minute own goal by Cape Verde secured Argentina a narrow 3-2 victory, highlighting the favorites' vulnerability.

Despite the scare, Argentina boasts an impressive scoring record, having netted at least two goals in ten consecutive World Cup matches, a streak extending from the previous tournament. Lionel Messi is the tournament's leading scorer with seven goals in four games, tied with Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland. He is also on the verge of becoming the all-time leading scorer in World Cup finals, currently sitting at 20 goals.

Egypt enters the match as the clear underdog, having advanced by defeating Australia in a penalty shootout. However, they draw confidence from their undefeated status in the tournament, having also beaten New Zealand and drawn with Belgium and Iran. Emam Ashour of Cairo club Al Ahly is Egypt's top scorer with two goals, while Liverpool star Mohamed Salah has contributed one goal and two assists, creating the most chances among remaining players.

The winner of this match will advance to the quarterfinals to face the victor of the Switzerland vs. Colombia game.