Argentina will start Lautaro Martinez as their striker in their World Cup opener against Algeria on Tuesday, with Julian Alvarez on the bench despite recovering from an ankle injury. Lionel Messi, appearing in a record sixth World Cup, will share attacking duties with Martinez. Left back Nicolas Tagliafico is absent due to a calf injury, with Facundo Medina replacing him. Algeria has benched Riyad Mahrez, opting to start Anis Hadj Moussa instead.
The match takes place at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, with Argentina entering as heavy favorites. This tournament marks Algeria's return to the World Cup after a 12-year absence. Meanwhile, France defeated Senegal 3-1 earlier in the day, with Kylian Mbappe scoring twice to surpass Messi in the all-time World Cup scoring charts. Norway also secured a 3-1 victory over Iraq, with Erling Haaland contributing two goals.
Argentina's coach, Lionel Scaloni, has expressed confidence in Messi's fitness despite a recent hamstring injury. Messi proved his readiness by scoring in a warm-up match against Iceland. The team's center-back, Nicolas Otamendi, praised Messi's competitive drive, stating that he motivates the team to perform at their best.
The match kicks off at 9 p.m. ET, with Argentina aiming to defend their title and Algeria looking to make an impact in Group J.