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Rabat – Mostafa Shobeir became the name of the moment during Egypt’s World Cup round-of-16 match against Argentina after saving Lionel Messi’s penalty in the first half.
Messi stepped up in the 21st minute, but Shobeir read the attempt and pushed the ball away to keep Egypt in front.
It was not his only big moment.
Shobeir also denied Alexis Mac Allister from close range before making a strong save to stop Julian Alvarez, helping Egypt protect their lead against the defending champions.
The save against Messi was Shobeir’s second penalty stop at the 2026 World Cup.
He had already saved a first-half penalty from Iran striker Mehdi Taremi during Egypt’s 1-1 draw in the group stage.
According to Sportstar, Shobeir became only the fourth goalkeeper, and the first African, to save two penalties during a single World Cup edition.
That record has added to his growing status as one of the breakout goalkeepers of the tournament.
Shobeir plays for Egyptian giants Al Ahly.
He came through the club’s youth system and was promoted to the senior squad in 2020.
His breakthrough at club level came in the 2023 CAF Champions League final against Wydad Casablanca, when he stepped in after Mohamed El-Shenawy was injured and helped Al Ahly move toward another continental title.
Shobeir was also named in Egypt’s final squad for the 2026 World Cup, alongside Mohamed El-Shenawy, El-Mahdi Soliman and Mohamed Alaa.
Football runs deeply in Shobeir’s family.
He is the son of Ahmed Shobeir, Egypt’s goalkeeper at the 1990 World Cup in Italy.
Ahmed was one of the most recognizable Egyptian goalkeepers of his generation, and now his son is writing his own story on the same stage.
Before the tournament, Ahram Online described Mostafa as Egypt’s likely first-choice goalkeeper and said the Shobeir family legacy was continuing at the World Cup.
