Argentina is stepping into their FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 showdown against Egypt with a strong sense of confidence and a well-established lineup, as Lionel Scaloni sticks with his trusted veterans. Leading the charge once again is Lionel Messi, who has bounced back from a head injury he sustained during the thrilling extra-time victory over Cape Verde. The big question on everyone’s mind is who will join Messi in the attack, and it’s Julián Álvarez who gets the nod. 

Argentina comes into this match after dominating Group J with four consecutive wins, including a nail-biting 3-2 extra-time triumph over Cape Verde. Their unbeaten streak has been fueled by a well-rounded offense and a solid defense, and the stats suggest they’re favored against Egypt. Scaloni is likely to deploy a structured 4-1-3-2 formation, focusing on controlling possession, stifling Egypt's counter-attacks, and taking another step toward defending their World Cup title.

In Argentina's starting XI, Emiliano Martínez stands guard in goal, backed by a defensive line of Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, and Nicolás Tagliafico. The midfield features Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister, and Leandro Paredes, who makes his return to the squad. Up front, Lionel Messi teams up with Julián Álvarez, who steps in for Lautaro Martínez to bring some fresh energy and pressing alongside the captain. 

Argentina's Round of 16 record in the last three FIFA World Cups 

Argentina has shown their knockout prowess by winning two out of their last three completed FIFA World Cup Round of 16 matches. Their latest triumph took place on December 3, 2022, at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan, where they faced off against Australia and came out on top with a 2-1 victory. Messi kicked things off by scoring in the 35th minute during his 1,000th career appearance, and Julián Álvarez added another goal in the 57th minute after capitalizing on a defensive mistake. Although Australia managed to pull one back with an own goal, Argentina held firm, and Messi was named Player of the Match.

The only hiccup in this impressive run occurred during the 2018 World Cup on June 30, 2018, at Kazan Arena, where they battled France but ultimately lost 4-3. Argentina fought hard after going down early, with Ángel Di María equalizing in the 41st minute and Gabriel Mercado putting them ahead shortly after halftime. However, France, led by Kylian Mbappé, responded with a powerful performance, with Mbappé scoring twice and earning Player of the Match honors. Although Sergio Agüero managed to score a header in stoppage time, it wasn't enough to avoid elimination.

Earlier, in the 2014 World Cup, Argentina narrowly defeated Switzerland 1-0 after extra time on July 1, 2014, at the Arena de São Paulo in Brazil. The match remained scoreless until the 118th minute when Ángel Di María finished off a brilliant move initiated by Messi's impressive run. This hard-fought victory propelled Argentina into the quarter-finals, with Messi once again shining as the standout player. Over these three Round of 16 matches, Argentina netted six goals, secured two wins, suffered one loss, and consistently relied on Messi's crucial contributions in high-stakes moments.