Lionel Messi's Argentina will face Egypt in the last 16 of the World Cup on Tuesday night. The winner of this match will play the winner of the match between Switzerland and Colombia in the quarter-finals.

Defending champions Argentina will face Egypt, bringing together two of the greatest players of all time in the world of football, Messi and Mohamed Salah. Both teams are also captaining their respective teams.

Argentina narrowly escaped defeat by Cape Verde, who are playing in the World Cup for the first time, in the last 32. Argentina only secured their place in the next round after an own goal in extra time. Argentina, on the other hand, will aim to play Egypt with composure. Egypt have never advanced beyond the last 16.

‘We are as alert as we were before the Cape Verde game,’ said Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, ‘Egypt are a good opponent. They are playing well. They have important players and a coach who have been working together for a long time. They play good football and always make it difficult for the opponent.’

Scaloni said, ‘Salah is a great player, there is pressure when he faces him, our team knows what to do when facing a great player like him. We always work hard for that.’ Despite playing 120 minutes against Cape Verde, the 39-year-old Messi said he was fit for the game against Egypt.

Messi, France’s Kylian Mbappe and Norway’s Erling Haaland are both in the race for the Golden Boot with seven goals each. Mbappe is ahead because he also has two assists. Messi and Mbappe are also competing for the top scorer in World Cup history. Messi has 20 goals and Mbappe has 18. Egypt defeated Australia in the last 32 on penalties. Salah has been without a club since leaving Liverpool at the end of the season and has scored one goal in four games at this World Cup.