Mohamed Salah Making it clear which football icon he will choose to dance the final “last dance” with at the World Cup, naming Lionel Messi ahead of cristiano ronaldoNeymar and Harry Kane Just a few days ago, Egypt was set to face defending champions Argentina in a sensational last-16 match of the 2026 World Cup.The knockout tie, scheduled to take place at the Atalanta Stadium on Tuesday, July 7, will be the first meeting between Salah and Messi at the World Cup and the third meeting between the two modern superstars in their careers. The winner will advance to the quarter-finals where they will face Colombia or Switzerland, while Egypt will face the reigning world champions in one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.
Salah chooses Messi to write the final chapter of the World Cup
The 2026 World Cup is widely expected to be the last appearance on football’s biggest stage for several members of the sport’s greatest generation.Messi, 39, continues to lead Argentina’s title defense, while Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Luka Modric and Salah himself are all considered unlikely to feature in another World Cup.After Egypt’s dramatic penalty shootout victory over Australia in the last 32, Salah was asked by reporters which player he would choose to have a “last dance” with, from the likes of Lionel Messi, Ronaldo, Neymar and Harry Kane.The Egyptian captain didn’t hesitate.“Messi,” Salah replied with a smile, immediately making his preference clear.The question didn’t specify whether “last dance” meant playing alongside someone or just sharing one last World Cup trip. Regardless of the explanation. Nonetheless, Salah’s answer left no doubt as to which player he would most like to play alongside him in this final chapter.Ironically, this wish has now become a reality almost immediately.
Argentina and Egypt will face off for the first time in World Cup history
Salah’s Egypt will now face Lionel Messi’s Argentina in one of the most exciting games in the round of 16.Argentina survived a game against Cape Verde to win 3-2 after extra time in a game that pushed Lionel Scaloni’s side to the limit.
Argentina’s Lionel Messi (10) scores the first goal against Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha (1) during the World Cup round of 32 football match on Friday, July 3, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
The dramatic win ensured the defending champions’ bid to retain back-to-back World Cup titles remained alive, but exposed a weakness that Egypt will be hoping to exploit.The Pharaohs beat Australia on penalties to head into the knockout stages with confidence in what will be the first official match between the two countries at the World Cup. fifa world cup.
Egypt’s Mohamed Salah (10) scores a penalty kick during the penalty shootout during the World Cup Round of 32 soccer match on Friday, July 3, 2026, in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
A win would send either side into the quarter-finals, where either Colombia or Switzerland await them.
Messi and Salah renew rare rivalry
Although Messi and Salah have both spent more than a decade among football’s elite, they have only met twice before.Both encounters took place in the UEFA Champions League while representing their former clubs.The first time was a 1-1 draw in the group stage of the 2015-16 season, when Salah’s Roma team faced Messi’s Barcelona team.Their second meeting was in the 2018-19 UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg at Camp Nou. Messi produced one of his finest performances in Europe, scoring twice as Barcelona beat Liverpool 3-0, before Jurgen Klopp’s side overcame the deficit at Anfield to reach the final.The upcoming game in Atlanta will therefore be their third meeting and their first in national team jerseys, with a World Cup quarter-final spot at stake.
Messi continues to lead golden boot contest The biggest uneasiness in Salah’s eyes
Messi came into the game in excellent form.The Argentina captain scored his seventh goal of the 2026 World Cup against Cape Verde to maintain his status as the tournament’s top scorer while extending his career World Cup goals record to 20.Despite being nearly 40 years old, he remains one of the tournament’s decisive figures and continues his quest for back-to-back World Cup titles after leading Argentina to victory in Qatar four years ago.
Messi of Argentina watches Cape Verde during the World Cup Round of 32 soccer match on Friday, July 3, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Meanwhile, Salah takes Egypt’s hopes into their toughest test of this World Cup. He also became Egypt’s all-time World Cup scorer with three goals, scoring twice at the 2018 World Cup in Russia and scoring the crucial third goal against New Zealand in the 2026 World Cup group stage. The Liverpool striker now has the chance to fulfill the desire he expressed after the win over Australia to share the stage with Messi in what could represent the last World Cup appearance for two modern football icons. Whether this ‘last dance’ opens a new chapter in Messi’s remarkable career or becomes one of the biggest shocks of the 2026 World Cup will be revealed when Egypt and Argentina meet in Atalanta for a place in the quarter-finals.
