Lionel Messi starts as Argentina face Egypt today for a place in the World Cup 2026 quarter-finals. The defending champions eked past minnows Cape Verde 3-2 in a stunning extra-time affair on Friday, with captain Messi suffering a head injury following a collision during the game.
He remained on the pitch for the entire 120 minutes in Miami, where the 39-year-old plays his club football for Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise Inter Miami. Messi opened the scoring for the holders on 29 minutes, before Lautaro Martinez netted in the second minute of extra time after Deroy Duarte had forced an additional half an hour. Sidny Lopes Cabral equalised once more for the Cape Verdeans, but it was an own goal from Diney in the 111th minute that saw Lionel Scaloni’s men progress into the last eight, where they take on Egypt in Atlanta on Tuesday.
Team News and Lineup Changes
There was another concern, with Facundo Medina, who was forced to leave the field with what turned out to be cramp, Scaloni confirmed. “He finished very tired because we also used him quite a bit in attack,” Scaloni explained. “He ended up cramping, but he’s okay.” Medina is replaced by Nicolas Tagliafico at left-back to face Egypt.
In two other changes from the win over Cape Verde, Thiago Almada makes way for Leandro Paredes and Julian Alvarez is preferred in attack, replacing Lautaro Martinez. Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez keeps goal, with Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez at the heart of the back four. Nahuel Molina joins Tagliafico at full-back, while Enzo Fernandez and Paredes partner up in the engine room. Rodrigo De Paul plays wide in Scaloni’s 4-4-2, with Alexis Mac Allister doing likewise today, and Alvarez is partnered by Messi up top.
Match Details
Argentina XI (4-4-2): Emiliano Martinez; Molina, Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Tagliafico; De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister, Paredes; Messi, Alvarez. Time and date: 5pm BST on Tuesday July 7, 2026. Venue: Atlanta Stadium. How to watch: ITV.
