Overview
- Argentina begin their World Cup campaign with Lionel Messi, age 38, as captain and the team’s central creative figure in their opening match against Algeria at Arrowhead Stadium.
- Reports say Messi has remained productive since 2022, scoring eight goals in qualifying and posting strong goal and assist numbers in MLS this season, which supporters cite as evidence he can still decide games.
- Coach Lionel Scaloni has adjusted tactics to protect Messi’s minutes by reducing sustained pressing and prioritizing quick forward surges and short, sharp passing to produce scoring opportunities.
- Younger teammates such as Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister and Enzo Fernández are expected to shoulder the physical work of pressing and running so Messi can operate deeper and pick decisive passes.
- If Argentina were to win again it would join only two teams that have ever retained the World Cup, making a successful defense an unusually rare achievement and a major legacy boost for Messi and the squad.