Will Messi play against Algeria?
“Everyone wants to see Messi on the field, playing,” Scaloni said.
“He excites everyone, not just Argentinians.
“From my part, it’ll always be like that. I don’t see anything negative. He’s been in different conditions and has always been here.
“He’s always been monumental for us, and now he will be even more. I see him well.”
(Getty)
Mike Jones17 June 2026 01:50
Argentina’s bid for World Cup immortality is the end of an era
Only two nations have ever won the World Cup twice in a row. Italy did it early – winning in 1934 and then in 1938 – while Brazil’s generation of Pele, Garrincha and co. repeated the feat in 1962.
In the modern era, it has so far proved impossible, though a few teams have come close. Brazil were soundly beaten in 1998, Argentina lost in 1990, and France were vanquished in 2022.
Chris Wilson17 June 2026 01:40
Can Argentina repeat their 2022 triumph?
“What happened back in Qatar was just amazing. The whole country united,” recalled Nicolas Otamendi.
“We have that engraved in our minds, and it’s just injected us with the strength to keep trying. There’s no relaxing.
“We need to keep working with that level of humility that is required in these types of competitions.”
Mike Jones17 June 2026 01:30
How Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo can still define World Cup 2026 despite their waning powers
On 11 July in Kansas City, there’s a fixture that many at the top of Fifa are already giddy about. Barron Trump is even said to have noted it.
Right now it’s just the quarter-final between the winners of matches 95 and 96, but it could well become the first World Cup meeting between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Miguel Delaney17 June 2026 01:20
First game ‘not fundamental’ for Argentina
Argentina’s head coach Lionel Scaloni knows how to win a World Cup having led the team to victory in 2022.
In that tournament, Argentina lost their opening match 2-1 to Saudi Arabia in a surprise result.
As such Scaloni says he is calm about his team’s opening match this evening.
“Calm because it’s just a game of football,” he said of his team’s frame of mind.
“We have the experience of the last World Cup. The first game is not fundamental. It’s important, but it doesn’t end with the first game.
“We are good, we are calm. We are facing a good team with good players. But we are calm, we are arriving at a good moment.”
Mike Jones17 June 2026 01:10
Why England are finally ready to deliver on their World Cup destiny
As we approach to start of Argentina’s World Cup campaign here’s a look at the state England are in and whether it is feasible that they can actually win the tournament.
The Independent’s Chief Football Writer, Miguel Delaney, breaks it all down here:
Miguel Delaney17 June 2026 01:00
Algeria XI: Zidane; Mandi, Ait-Nouri, Belghali, Bensebani; Chaibi, Boudaoui, Bentaleb, Maza; Gouiri, Hadj Moussa
Mike Jones17 June 2026 00:52
Not only does he head his country’s World Cup appearance table, but Leo Messi has more outings in the competition than any other player of any nationality.
Messi has 26 World Cup appearances across five tournaments: Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022.
He will also appear in a record-breaking sixth World Cup when taking to the field against Algeria.
MUNDIAL ARGENTINA (AP)
Mike Jones17 June 2026 00:50
Argentina XI: Martinez; Montiel, Li. Martinez, Romero, Medina; De Paul, Mac Allister, Fernandez; Messi, Almada, La. Martinez
Mike Jones17 June 2026 00:50
How Algeria reached the World Cup
Algeria are back in the World Cup for the first time in 12 years.
They sealed their return to the global showpiece by finishing top of Group G in CAF qualifying, winning eight of their 10 games.
Mohamed Amoura outscored everyone else in the continent with 10 goals through qualifying and will hope to continue that form in this tournament.
Mike Jones17 June 2026 00:40