Scaloni says no clear favourites as Argentina brace for Egypt and Salah in World Cup last 16

Scaloni sees no clear favourites

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni believes the 2026 World Cup has levelled the playing field, with traditional powerhouses struggling to assert dominance. His side needed extra time to beat Cape Verde 3-2 in the round of 32, while France required penalties to overcome Paraguay and Spain edged Portugal with an added-time goal. Brazil and Germany are already out.

I think this World Cup is very tricky for everyone, it seems there is no clear favourite. There are no national teams that, as we used to see before the World Cup, were clear favourites.

Scaloni pointed to travel, heat, pitch conditions and player fatigue as factors preventing any team from pulling ahead. He remains satisfied with Argentina's four wins from four matches, describing their level as "acceptable" and praising the squad's grit when performances dip.

Messi and Salah set for Atlanta showdown

The last-16 tie in Atlanta pits two of the tournament's standout performers against each other. Messi, 39, has scored seven goals in four matches, equalling Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland in the Golden Boot race, and has found the net in a record eight consecutive World Cup games. Salah, 34, has captained Egypt to their first knockout-stage victory, scoring three goals and creating 16 chances despite a hamstring strain.

I told the boys before the game, 'Guys, this is the biggest stage you could play in your life. So just enjoy it.'

Neither player has confirmed his international future beyond the tournament. Egypt's national team director Ibrahim Hassan said his side would not be overawed: "They might have Messi, but we have Mohamed Salah, and we have 26 Messis of our own."

Egypt's historic breakthrough

Egypt had never won a World Cup match before this tournament. Victories over New Zealand in the group stage and Australia on penalties in the round of 32 have transformed Salah's legacy with the national team. The shootout win in Dallas, sealed by Salah's Panenka penalty, reduced the forward to tears and sparked celebrations that continued onto the streets outside the team hotel.

I don't know if that's my last World Cup or not, but I had to do it. Today was one of the best days of my life.

Salah now has three World Cup goals, one behind coach Hossam Hassan's national record of 69 international goals.

Rest and schedule concerns

Scaloni warned that the knockout-phase schedule is punishing. Should Argentina reach the final, they would play five matches in 17 days. The extra-time win over Cape Verde in Miami heat left several players with cramp, and the quick turnaround to a noon kick-off in Atlanta has drawn criticism.

As you get closer to the end, with more matches played, you need more rest, yet the opposite is happening. We played in Miami the other day in that heat and now we're playing tomorrow at noon.

Messi is fit to start despite playing the full 120 minutes on Friday. Colombia face Switzerland in Vancouver in the day's other last-16 tie.