'They have Messi, but we have Salah': Egypt vs Argentina
Egypt national team director Ibrahim Hassan says "They might have Messi, but we have Mohamed Salah – and we have 26 Messis of our own" ahead of Tuesday's Argentina vs Egypt World Cup last-16 tie in Atlanta — the first international meeting between two modern legends still chasing history.
Key Takeaways
- Egypt team director Ibrahim Hassan told players to ignore Messi's stature and lean on Salah plus a united squad.
- Tuesday's Atlanta showdown is Salah and Messi's first international meeting, though they met twice in the Champions League.
- Salah converted a Panenka penalty to help Egypt beat Australia and claim their first World Cup knockout victory.
- TNT Sports tips Argentina to win 2-0, with bookmakers giving the defending champions roughly 74% implied probability.
- Both sides played 120 minutes on Friday, and Salah is managing a hamstring strain after being rushed back from injury.
Why is Egypt talking about "26 Messis"?
With the Pharaohs set to face Lionel Scaloni's world champions, national team director Ibrahim Hassan sought to shield his players from star-struck nerves. Speaking to Egyptian media, he said the squad should "go out there, play their game and block out the stature of who they are up against."
His rallying cry — that Egypt has Salah and "26 Messis of our own" — quickly went viral as pre-match bravado. Hassan also pointed to Salah's Liverpool pedigree: 257 goals and four Premier League Golden Boots. For a side chasing an unprecedented quarter-final berth, the message was blunt: respect Argentina, but do not fear them.
What happened before Salah vs Messi became reality?
The narrative accelerated after Egypt's dramatic penalty shootout win over Australia in Dallas on Friday. Mohamed Salah, who had missed in Egypt's last two shootouts, chipped a Panenka down the middle to seal a 4-2 triumph. "I decided last minute," he said. "I am more experienced than others and I wanted to give them confidence."
Asked who he would like to face if this World Cup proves his swansong, Salah answered without hesitation: "Messi," with a smirk. Argentina, meanwhile, needed extra time to survive Cape Verde 3-2, with Lionel Messi scoring in another nervy knockout test. As The Guardian notes, Tuesday will be their first meeting at international level.
Can Egypt actually upset Argentina?
Bookmakers and analysts see a steep climb. TNT Sports prices Argentina as heavy favourites with about 74% implied win probability and predicts a 2-0 victory at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Egypt's defensive approach produced three draws in 90 minutes across four World Cup matches, and they have not kept a clean sheet in the tournament.
Salah has created more chances than any player at this World Cup with 16, but he is managing a hamstring strain that forced an early exit against Iran and limited him against Australia. Omar Marmoush remains a threat, yet missed a clear chance in Dallas. Argentina have lost only five of Scaloni's 100 games in charge — though Sergio Agüero warned that cramps and a four-day turnaround could test the holders against a physically strong Egypt side.
Why does this clash feel bigger than a last-16 tie?
Beyond the scoreline, this is a collision of modern icons. Salah and Messi met twice in the Champions League — at Roma in 2015 and in Liverpool's 2019 semi-final first leg at Camp Nou — but never for their countries. Egypt arrive after their first-ever World Cup knockout victory; Argentina chase a path toward defending the trophy Messi lifted in Qatar.
Teenager Hamza Abdelkarim, seen as Salah's natural successor, echoed the squad's mindset: "We're playing against Argentina, not against Messi." Whether bravado or belief, the quote captured a tournament moment where underdog swagger met heavyweight pedigree — the kind of oddball sports drama our Bizarre News & Florida Man desk lives for. For Egypt, with nothing to lose and history within reach, the message is clear: they have Messi to worry about, but they also have Salah.