Atlanta, USA – Argentina’s head coach, Lionel Scaloni, confirmed this Monday that Lionel Messi is in optimal physical condition and will be in the starting lineup for the 2026 FIFA World Cup round of 16 match against Egypt, which will be played this Tuesday at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
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During the pre-match press conference, Scaloni cleared up any doubts regarding the condition of the Argentine captain, who played all 120 minutes of the demanding clash against Cape Verde in the previous round.
“Leo is fine. He didn’t show any discomfort after playing the whole match. If he has any, he didn’t tell me, so he will play anyway,” stated the coach, who assured that he has already defined the starting lineup, although he preferred to keep it under wraps.
According to the Argentine press, the team would be very similar to the one that secured qualification against Cape Verde. The main uncertainties involve the recovery of defender Facundo Medina, who was affected by cramps in the previous match, and the possibility of Julián Álvarez taking Lautaro Martínez’s place in the attack.
Another variant that the coaching staff is analyzing is the return of Leandro Paredes to the midfield. Scaloni explained that the Boca Juniors midfielder arrived at the training camp with physical discomfort and that, while he was recovering his best condition, Alexis Mac Allister successfully took over the defensive midfielder role.
The coach also praised the Egyptian national team, describing them as a high-level opponent, with top-tier players and a well-defined playing identity thanks to the sustained work of their coaching staff.
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Scaloni noted that he expects a demanding match and warned that his team must control the opponent’s offensive transitions and remain calm in building up play to avoid the mistakes made in the previous match.
Likewise, he acknowledged that the short recovery time, the heavy rains recorded in Georgia, and travel delays complicated the preparation, although he highlighted that the squad prioritized physical recovery and took advantage of the days to study Egypt’s performance in detail.
Argentina will seek its ticket to the quarterfinals this Tuesday with its greatest star, Lionel Messi, leading the reigning world champion in a new challenge to keep alive the dream of defending the title won in Qatar 2022.
