What Mohamed Salah has said about Lionel Messi ahead of World Cup showdown
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Liverpool FC NewsFeaturesMohamed SalahMohamed Salah and Lionel Messi are preparing to do battle in the World Cup last-16 and the Egyptian's comments on his adulation for his opponent have resurfacedLionel Messi and Mo Salah competing for the ball(Image: Getty Images)Mohamed Salah played a vital role in helping Egypt qualify for the last 16 in this year's World Cup with a converted penalty in a shootout last night.The now-former Liverpool star netted a Panenka from the spot as his side saw off Australia to reach the latter stages of the tournament where they will come face to face with the current holders of the trophy in Argentina.The Argentine squad has been inspired by Lionel Messi once again in the competition with the genius leading the Golden Boot race with seven goals so far and more big fixtures to come if they can get past Egypt on Tuesday, July 7.Two of the best in the world will collide, then, in the last-16 with Messi and Salah ready to do battle. But the Liverpool icon has never hidden his admiration for his counterpart.In the aftermath of Salah's otherworldly 2024/25 season when he scored a whopping 28 times in 35 appearances en route to a second top flight crown in five years, the winger was among the Ballon d'Or nominations.And in an interview with France Football, Salah was asked to compare the talents of a number of fellow left-footed wizards before having to pick the best from the list.The likes of Ryan Giggs, Riyadh Mahrez, Gareth Bale and Arjen Robben were all name checked before Antoine Griezmann and Rivaldo were paired together with the latter taking his preference.Mo Salah and Leo Messi(Image: 2019 Simon Stacpoole/Offside)Diego Maradona then beat out the Brazilian only to be bested by his countryman, Messi, as Salah declared: "I stay with Messi!" That was before the interviewer could ask where he sat among the crop.It was a clear mark of respect from Salah for his World Cup rival and it will certainly be an interesting tie when the two nations square-off next week.Messi's game against Cape Verde kicked off after Egypt made it through and Salah, when asked about potentially coming up against the Argentine legend, had played coy.Refusing to get too far ahead of himself before the late night action, Salah smiled and said: "That might happen, but we must first respect the Cape Verde national team."Argentina will play their next match shortly, and after that, we'll see what happens."As it would transpire, Messi would open the scoring in his game in what would become one of the more dramatic 120 minutes of the tournament.Cape Verde earned all the plaudits for taking the holders of the tournament to their limits as they were ultimately undone by a Cuti Romero header late on.Choose Liverpool.com as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.Mohamed SalahLionel MessiFIFA World CupLiverpool FC