Mohamed Salah’s Egypt side were knocked out of the 2026 World Cup in highly controversial circumstances on Tuesday evening.

The Pharaohs led 2-0 going into the final 15 minutes of the match, but they could not hold on as Argentina scored three late goals to send them out of the competition.

Egypt were not happy at all with some of the refereeing decisions made during the match. Egypt had a goal controversially ruled out in the second half, while they also thought Enzo Fernandez’s winner should have been disallowed and their side awarded a penalty for a foul on Salah in the build-up.

The African side couldn’t contain their emotions after they exited the competition. Mostafa Ziko said the tournament was ‘rigged’ for Argentina to win the World Cup, while manager Hossam Hassan echoed those thoughts and vowed to boycott the rest of the tournament.

Egypt have since made an official complaint to FIFA and released an extraordinary statement slamming the officials.

Mohamed Salah’s Actions At Full-Time

REUTERS/Paul Childs

Salah, understandably, was crestfallen at his side’s defeat. At 34 years old, it is very likely that this summer’s competition was his last appearance at a World Cup.

New footage has now emerged showing the Liverpool legend’s actions after the final whistle. While Egypt’s coaching staff were losing their heads and his teammates were making their complaints known to the officials, Salah kept a level head and showed real class.

After shaking hands with Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez, Salah made his way to the officials. Several of his teammates were complaining to the officials, but Salah put an end to that as he ushered them away.

Egypt’s captain, who has been capped 121 times by his country, then shook hands with the officials before walking away.

His actions have gone down well on Reddit. One fan said: “He’s one of the classiest people in sports, both on and off the pitch, respect to him,” while another commented: “Mo Salah continues to be one of the classiest guys in global sports.”

A third wrote: “It’s refreshing to see captains actually acting like the leaders they’re supposed to be,” while a fourth said: “Good lad, sometimes you lose and you need to take it on the chin. Proper sportsmanship.”

Ian Wright: Enzo Fernandez’s Winner Should’ve Been Disallowed

REUTERS/Paul Childs

Ian Wright was adamant that Fernandez’s winner should have been disallowed and Egypt awarded a penalty. He said on ITV Sport:

Wright added: “He’s been caught. Whatever we say, it might be minimal, he’s been caught and then they go up the other end.”

Argentina will face Switzerland in the last eight of the competition. Their match will take place at Kansas City Stadium on July 11.

Egypt, meanwhile, have returned home following their exit. Salah will now turn his attention to addressing his future. He left Liverpool this summer, and it is currently unclear where he will play his football next season.

Manchester United are said to have struck a deal to snatch a Chelsea talent, and their midfield business may not be over yet. The Red Devils have been searching for a replacement for Casemiro, who left the club this summer, and Michael Carrick wants that second midfielder to add to the agreement to sign Ederson. Ederson was effectively snapped up early in the summer, but the deal hasn’t quite gone through due to United requesting a second medical.

Carrick has been looking for a holding or a hybrid midfielder, and the latter seems to be his preference given United chased – and ultimately failed to land – West Ham star Mateus Fernandes. And the Red Devils may have now found their man.

Man Utd agree Andrey Santos deal

According to David Ornstein, United have now agreed a deal to sign Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos. He posted on X: “EXCL: Manchester United reach agreement with Chelsea to sign Andrey Santos. Deal for 22yo #CFC midfielder worth £48m + £2m easily achievable add-ons & 10% sell-on clause. Permission given to undergo #MUFC medical; personal terms in place”

The report adds that United have won the race despite interest from ‘multiple suitors’ this summer. Chelsea are said to value Santos, but the Brazilian wants to be a more regular starter, and he is more likely to find them at United.

Santos is of a similar profile to Fernandes in that he can play as a number 6 or a number 8, and even as a combination of the both. He can do the defensive work and carry the ball into attacking areas, and he is every bit the modern hybrid midfielder.

Santos an ‘excellent’ and versatile midfielder

Former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca praised Santo’s versatility early last season, when he said after one win: “Andrey was excellent. His position is the position he played today. With us most of the time he has been playing a little bit higher, in the pocket. In that [deeper] position we have Moi, so we try to find solutions for Andrey. We are aware his position is the one he played today.”

While United may now be on their way to signing two midfielders, The Athletic report suggests the Red Devils will sign a third, who is likely to be a more experienced figure, given they are on track to sign two younger players. Casemiro’s presence and experience has been vital for United over the last couple of years, in particular, and it needs to be properly replaced ahead of a Champions League campaign.

Manchester United are still working to get their major summer transfer over the line despite reports the deal has been called off. The Red Devils swiftly agreed a fee of £34million plus add-ons to sign Atalanta midfielder Ederson this summer, kicking off their business before the player flew to North America with the Brazil squad for the World Cup.

Red Devils chiefs then flew to the US to hold a medical with the player, but Brazil’s medical staff were present to monitor and police the testing, given they understandably wouldn’t want the player’s body to be put under any demands that would risk injury and overload during the tournament.

That seems to have complicated the deal a little, and there are reports that the deal has been called off, but Fabrizio Romano is claiming otherwise.

Romano clears up Ederson to Man Utd transfer details

According to transfer guru Romano, United’s stance remains the same in that they want a second medical to be held at their own base before they sign off on the deal. He said on his YouTube show: “Ederson will undergo a medical this week, so it will be this week at Manchester United. There will be Ederson taking a medical in the UK, because Man United made the first check in the US, and they want to do more checks with their own staff in England. At the moment, the deal is still not confirmed.

“So today I can tell you, Ederson to Met United, here we go. In the sense of what I told you in June, agreement between all parties, the player is having a medical, it’s all agreed verbally, but to tell you, is Ederson to Manchester United closed, signed, completed? Not yet at this stage, not yet. And we have to be careful, because there is a medical to do in England, and Man United will then communicate to Atalanta and to the player what they feel about that medical.”

Can Man Utd afford to cancel Ederson deal?

United have already had trouble signing transfer targets this summer, missing out on Mateus Fernandes to Tottenham, and they are yet to find the marquee holding midfield signing they are looking for to replace Casemiro.

Michael Carrick wants two midfield signings this summer, and given how hard it has been to find a second, it would be a bold move to call off the deal for the first. That would leave United in a tricky position with the summer already flying by.

If there is a medical issue, then that is another question, but most fans will likely be pleased that the Red Devils will do their due diligence and that they are still planning to go ahead with the deal as long as all goes well during the medical.