Will Lionel Messi play tonight for Argentina vs Egypt in FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16?
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Argentina set for another thrilling game tonight.
Argentina and Lionel Messi resume their pursuit to become the first country to successfully reclaim a World Cup title since Brazil in 1962. However, La Albiceleste had a fright against Cape Verde in the Round of 32 before winning 3-2 in extra time.
Egypt and Mohamed Salah want to extend their historic World Cup run after eliminating Australia on penalties in the recent game. The Pharaohs might pose a strong defensive test, having conceded only one goal in each of their four World Cup games.
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni intends to make a few changes to his starting lineup when his squad faces another African club, North African powerhouse Egypt, in the round of 16.
They may or may not represent the changes that fans are yearning for. Many have called for more playing time for some of the La Albiceleste’s young, exciting, rising talents, like Nico Paz and Giuliano Simeone, who started the last group game.
Scaloni, however, observed that –
“We can play in a lot of ways in the same game and tomorrow the team we’ll put out will be more or less similar to what we’ve been doing.”
Also read: Argentina vs Egypt – Five player battles to watch out for in FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 clash
Will Lionel Messi play tonight?
Despite having played a full 120 minutes, Lionel Messi is certain to start against the Pharaohs. He was crucial in leading the South American giants against Cape Verde with a goal and an assist. However, his assist was later disallowed due to an own goal.
Lionel Messi has registered goals in all four of Argentina’s World Cup 2026 games. He has netted seven goals so far, the same number of goals as Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland.
Will Lionel Messi play tonight?
Yes, he will play tonight.
Where will the game be played?
It will be played at Pista Mercedes-Benz in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
What time will the game start?
9:30 pm IST, tonight.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.