Lead

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has singled out Mohamed Salah as a player deserving "special attention" ahead of Tuesday's World Cup quarter-final against Egypt in Atlanta. The defending champions face the Pharaohs for a place in the semi-finals, with both teams looking to make a statement in the tournament.

Coverage

The build-up to the match has been dominated by two narratives: the looming shadow of Lionel Messi's potential final World Cup, and the challenge posed by Egypt's talisman, Mohamed Salah. Reports describe the encounter as a clash of two football legends, with Messi and Salah both in the twilight of their careers.

AllAfrica notes that Messi, 39, has suggested this could be his last World Cup, while Salah, 34, is still hoping to feature in 2030. The two players have had markedly different World Cup journeys: Messi is the tournament's all-time top scorer and joint-leading scorer this year, while Salah is playing in his third World Cup and has reached the knockout rounds for the first time with Egypt.

Scaloni, meanwhile, has been careful to balance respect for Salah with an emphasis on Argentina's collective approach. "He's a top player and it's an honour to face him," Scaloni said, according to the Buenos Aires Times. "But we always defend collectively, and he deserves special attention." The Argentine coach stressed that his team would not build their game plan around stopping one player, instead analysing Egypt as a whole.

The match comes after Argentina narrowly escaped defeat against Cape Verde in the last 32, winning in extra time. Messi is reported to be fit to start despite playing the full 120 minutes in that match. Egypt, for their part, eliminated Australia on penalties, with Salah scoring a Panenka penalty in the shootout.

Key Claims

  • Scaloni's assessment of Salah: Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni described Mohamed Salah as a "top player" who deserves "special attention" from his defence, as reported by the Buenos Aires Times.
  • Messi's fitness: Lionel Messi is fit to start against Egypt despite playing extra time against Cape Verde, according to the Buenos Aires Times.
  • Salah's World Cup history: This is Salah's first time reaching the knockout rounds with Egypt, having previously failed to advance beyond the group stage in his first two World Cups, reports AllAfrica. Egypt have never progressed beyond the Round of 16 in the tournament's history, a fact noted by the Buenos Aires Times.
  • Salah's tournament form: He has scored once in four matches, with his most notable contribution being a Panenka penalty that helped Egypt beat Australia in the last 32.
  • Golden Boot race: Messi, France's Kylian Mbappé, and Norway's Erling Haaland are tied at the top of the scoring charts, according to the Buenos Aires Times.

Key Claims

  • Argentina faces Egypt for a place in the World Cup quarter-finals, with the winner advancing to play Switzerland or Colombia.
  • Lionel Messi, 39, is fit to start despite playing the full 120 minutes against Cape Verde.
  • Mohamed Salah, 34, has scored once in four matches and has been influential in Egypt's campaign, including a Panenka penalty in the shootout that eliminated Australia.
  • Egypt has never progressed beyond the Round of 16 in World Cup history.
  • Egypt reached the Africa Cup of Nations finals in 2017 and 2021 but lost both, and Salah has had public disagreements with the Egyptian Football Association over issues such as image rights and team management.