2026 World Cup Best Player Prop Picks, Odds, Predictions for Friday, July 3, 2026
The 2026 World Cup Round of 32 concludes on Friday, with three spots in the Round of 16 still up for grabs. The reigning champions are also back in action as they begin their title defense in earnest.
The day opens at 2 p.m. ET with Group D runners-up Australia taking on Group G runners-up Egypt. The two sides meet for just the second time ever, and for the first time in a competitive tournament. Egypt enters as slight favorites to advance in what would be the country’s first World Cup knockout win. Australia has now reached the knockout stage in back-to-back World Cups but is still searching for its first victory at this stage.
Argentina returns to action after a dominant Group J campaign, winning all three matches and outscoring opponents 8-1. They face a Cape Verde side that qualified as Group H runners-up after drawing all three of their group matches – an impressive feat for a nation making their World Cup debut. Cape Verde will look to pull off one of the biggest upsets in the competition’s history, but Argentina enters as a massive favorite (-2500) to advance.
The Round of 32 concludes with Group K winners Colombia taking on Group L third-placed side Ghana. Colombia now returns to the knockout stage for the first time in eight years after missing the 2022 tournament entirely. The South Americans were impressive in the group stage, arriving in the knockouts unbeaten through three matches. They face a Ghana side that has been defensively solid but struggled to create in attack. Colombia is a significant favorite to claim its first knockout stage victory in 12 years.
Here are the best player props for Friday, July 3. Make sure to check out our World Cup match trends page for daily odds, insights, and betting data for each game.
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Friday’s Best 2026 World Cup Player Props
- Mohamed Salah (Egypt) – Over 0.5 Goals + Assists (+145)
- Lionel Messi (Argentina) – Over 2.5 Shots on Goal (+105)
- Luis Díaz (Colombia) – Over 0.5 Offsides (+100)
Mohamed Salah (Egypt) – Over 0.5 Goals + Assists (+145)
Despite his age, Salah continues to perform at the highest level for club and country. The 34-year-old led Egypt with three goal contributions during the group stage and remains the focal point of the African side’s attack from the right wing. He leads the team in both xG and xA and tops the squad in key passes per game with 3.7.
Salah has operated primarily as a creator at this year’s World Cup despite needing just three goals to become Egypt’s all-time leading scorer. Rather than forcing his own chances, he has consistently set up teammates in dangerous positions. The Premier League legend is well placed to contribute to Egypt’s first-ever World Cup knockout win on Friday afternoon.
Lionel Messi (Argentina) – Over 2.5 Shots on Goal (+105)
We’re backing another football legend to carry his brilliant group stage form into the Round of 32. At 39 years old, Messi is proving he remains one of the best attacking players in the world on the biggest stage. He led all players in the competition with six goals during the group stage and will look to add to his five career World Cup knockout goals on Friday evening.
The Inter Miami superstar has been prolific in front of goal, leading Argentina with five shots per game. Cape Verde’s approach during the group stage of sitting deep in a low block and looking to counter invited opponents to shoot freely, and Argentina could easily generate north of 20 attempts in this match. Messi averaged three shots on target per game during the group stage despite playing the full 90 minutes in just one of three appearances, making this a strong play.
Luis Díaz (Colombia) – Over 0.5 Offsides (+100)
Our final prop of the day is a fun one to follow in the Round of 32’s closing match. Díaz has carried his red-hot club form from Bayern Munich into the tournament, contributing two goal involvements in the group stage. He and Colombia’s other attackers have thrived under Néstor Lorenzo’s counter-attacking system, which gives Díaz the space to operate at his best. However, one recurring theme in the group stage has been the difficulty Colombia’s forwards have had timing their runs in transition.
Díaz finished the group stage with a tournament-high seven offsides, averaging 2.3 per game. He was flagged at least once in every match and was called offside five times alone in the matchday two win over DR Congo. His blistering pace often works against him in that regard, and with Colombia looking to bypass Ghana’s low block on the counter, at least one offside flag seems inevitable.
Photo Credit: REUTERS
