Gruppe J · FIFA Weltmeisterschaft 2026
Lionel Messi
Inter Miami
The greatest player in history, playing in his sixth and final World Cup at 38. Still the most dangerous creator in the tournament's central zones. A minor muscle injury means Scaloni may rest him in the group stage — which could actually be the best thing for Argentina's title chances.
Julián Álvarez
Atlético Madrid
€90m Atlético forward who has evolved far beyond a box poacher. His high press, linkup play, off-ball runs, and ability to deliver diagonal passes make him Argentina's most complete forward — a player Scaloni can rely on when Messi needs rest.
Enzo Fernández
Chelsea
€90m Chelsea midfielder who was unknown before Qatar 2022 and is now one of the best in the world. His combination of defensive coverage, carrying ability, and creative passing gives Argentina a midfielder capable of controlling the tempo of any game.
Alexis Mac Allister
Liverpool
€80m Liverpool midfielder and Premier League champion. Technically impeccable, capable of playing in multiple midfield roles, and consistent under pressure. With Enzo, he forms one of the best central midfield partnerships at the tournament.
Cristian Romero
Tottenham
€50m Spurs centre-back and the linchpin of Argentina's defence. His aggression, reading of the game, and ability to organise under pressure are critical in a system where full-backs push high and leave space behind. Managing his fitness for the knockout rounds is Scaloni's primary defensive challenge.
Tagliafico
DF
Age
33
Height
172cm
Foot
Left
Value
€5M
De Paul
MF
Age
31
Height
180cm
Foot
Right
Value
€15M
Scaloni was an unlikely appointment in 2018 — a former journeyman defender with no head-coaching experience. He became one of the greatest international coaches in history. Three consecutive titles. Extraordinary tactical flexibility — he has changed his starting XI and formation from match to match throughout his tenure, always outsmarting opponents. His greatest skill: making Messi the conductor of a system rather than its sole engine.
Argentina are defending a World Cup title for the first time since 1982 — when they lost in the second group stage. As the world's most decorated international team by tournament wins (3 World Cups, 16 Copa Américas), the expectation is both a strength and a burden. Scaloni has managed the pressure by keeping the squad focused on process rather than legacy.
Argentina open against Algeria — not a weak opponent. North Africa's top side with organised defensive structure and physical intensity. After that, Austria and then Jordan. The schedule runs toughest-to-easiest, giving Scaloni the chance to rest Messi and other key players once qualification is secured. The Jordan game may effectively be a training session.
Argentina made their World Cup debut in 1930 (losing the final to Uruguay). They missed four tournaments before the 1978 home title. Since then: three titles, four runners-up finishes. The lineage from Kempes to Maradona to Messi is the clearest narrative thread in football history — each star carrying the nation to glory in their own era.
At Qatar 2022, Scaloni used so many different formations and personnel combinations that journalists coined "Schrödinger's champion" — a team whose tactical identity couldn't be pinned down. He deployed Messi as a false nine in 4-3-3, used a 3-5-2 to neutralise Netherlands' wing-backs, and deployed a 4-4-2 pressing machine to suffocate Croatia. In one tournament, he won with three completely different tactical identities.
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Martinez
GK
Age
33
Height
192cm
Foot
Right
Value
€15M
McAllister
MF
Age
27
Height
176cm
Foot
Right
Value
€80M
Romero
DF
Age
28
Height
185cm
Foot
Right
Value
€50M
Molina
DF
Age
28
Height
177cm
Foot
Right
Value
€15M
Alvarez
FW
Age
26
Height
170cm
Foot
Right
Value
€90M
Otamendi
DF
Age
38
Height
183cm
Foot
Right
Value
€1M
Paredes
MF
Age
31
Height
180cm
Foot
Right
Value
€5M
Enzo
MF
Age
25
Height
178cm
Foot
Right
Value
€90M
González
FW
Age
28
Height
180cm
Foot
Left
Value
€24M
Messi
FW
Age
38
Height
170cm
Foot
Left
Value
€15M
Palacios
MF
Age
27
Height
177cm
Foot
Right
Value
€30M
Luli
GK
Age
33
Height
189cm
Foot
Right
Value
€8M
Musso
GK
Age
32
Height
191cm
Foot
Right
Value
€3M
Barco
MF
Age
21
Height
172cm
Value
€35M
Simeone
FW
Age
23
Height
173cm
Value
€40M
Paz
MF
Age
21
Height
186cm
Value
€65M
Almada
FW
Age
25
Height
171cm
Foot
Right
Value
€20M
Lopez
FW
Age
25
Height
190cm
Value
€22M
Balerdi
DF
Age
26
Height
189cm
Foot
Right
Value
€30M
Montiel
DF
Age
28
Height
177cm
Foot
Right
Value
€8M
Lisandro Martinez
DF
Age
27
Height
175cm
Foot
Left
Value
€60M
Lo Celso
MF
Age
29
Height
177cm
Foot
Left
Value
€15M
Lautaro
FW
Age
27
Height
174cm
Foot
Right
Value
€130M
Medina
DF
Age
25
Height
182cm
Foot
Left
Value
€12M
Yes. Argentina are the reigning World Cup champions, having won in Qatar 2022. They are in Group J alongside Algeria, Austria, and Jordan.
Argentina are in Group J alongside Algeria, Austria, and Jordan. They open against Algeria, then face Austria, and close with Jordan — the schedule runs toughest-to-easiest, which allows Scaloni to rest key players including Messi once qualification is secured.
Lionel Scaloni is the head coach of Argentina. The former player turned tactical mastermind has led Argentina to three consecutive titles — Copa América 2021, World Cup 2022, and Copa América 2024. His trademark is extraordinary formation flexibility: he has used more different starting XIs than any other major tournament winner in history.
Argentina's key players are Lionel Messi (Inter Miami, captain), Julián Álvarez (Atlético Madrid, €90m), Enzo Fernández (Chelsea, €90m), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool, €80m), and Cristian Romero (Tottenham). Nico Paz (Como) is the most exciting newcomer — a tall, carrying midfielder who brings a tactical dimension Argentina previously lacked.
Yes — three times (1978, 1986, 2022). They are the reigning champions, having beaten France on penalties in the Qatar 2022 final. They also hold the record for most Copa América titles (16). Their squad's core has been together for four years; the generational transfer is already underway.
Argentina are tournament favourites alongside France and England. As defending champions with a settled squad, elite midfield, and the world's greatest player, they have the capability to go all the way. The concerns: Messi is 38 and managing an injury, the full-backs leave space that elite wingers exploit, and a 48-team tournament with eight matches requires rotation depth they lack compared to European rivals.
Messi arrives at his sixth World Cup with 13 goals in 26 appearances across five tournaments. He could become the all-time World Cup scoring leader. His physical peak is behind him — reduced defensive work, less explosive movement — but his positioning, vision, and finishing in tight central zones remain peerless. A minor muscle injury in the Miami heat means Scaloni may rest him in the group stage.
The 48-team World Cup runs to eight matches for the champion. In a 32-team format, Messi could last on adrenaline and elite professionalism. Eight games is physiologically different for a 38-year-old managing a muscle injury. If Scaloni can give Messi meaningful rest in the group stage, Argentina arrive at the knockout rounds with the freshest version of the best player alive. The squad can handle Algeria, Austria, and Jordan without him.
Enzo Fernández (€90m, Chelsea), Alexis Mac Allister (€80m, Liverpool), and Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami) form a midfield that has won three titles together. They cover every base — press-resistance (Mac Allister), creative carrying (Enzo), and tireless engine work (De Paul). Few midfield trios in the tournament can match their collective quality.
Nico Paz (Como, €65m) is the most exciting new face in the squad. The 21-year-old trained under Fabregas and became a Serie A top-six midfielder with a unique profile: tall for a playmaker, exceptional at carrying the ball forward, and capable of late runs into the box. He gives Argentina a false-10/box-to-box option they have never had before — crucial when Messi needs rotation.
Julian Álvarez was signed by Atlético Madrid as a pressing forward and goal poacher. He has become much more than that. His lateral passes, diagonal balls, and ability to drop and combine make him a genuine co-creator alongside Messi. In the matches where Messi is rested, Álvarez will lead the attack — and the squad trusts him completely.
Lautaro Martínez accepted a reduced role at Qatar 2022 and delivered it perfectly. In the 4-4-2 system Scaloni has tested during qualifying, both he and Álvarez can start together. Otherwise, Lautaro is the cleanest, most reliable substitute in the squad — a proven Champions League-level striker who changes games from the bench.
Argentina's system requires full-backs (Molina, Tagliafico) to push high and wide to create attacking width. This leaves Romero and L. Martínez exposed to counter-attacks. Against teams with fast, direct wide forwards — France, England, Spain — this is a genuine danger. Both Romero and L. Martínez are carrying minor injuries going into the tournament.
Giovanni Lo Celso was injured the day before the Qatar 2022 squad announcement and missed the entire tournament. He returns this cycle as a key rotation midfielder — technically one of the best players in the squad when fit, capable of providing the creative passing in tight spaces that bridges the midfield to Messi. His return gives the second team a genuine quality upgrade.
At Qatar 2022, Argentina made substitutions at an average of the 66th minute — earlier than any other team in the tournament. Scaloni treats rotation as a weapon, not a concession. His second XI — Lautaro, Lo Celso, Nico Paz, Lo Celso, J. Simone — is strong enough to decide games. This is what makes an 8-game tournament navigable.
Argentina have the squad, the system, the coach, and the champion mentality to reach the final again. A second consecutive title would put them in entirely uncharted territory — no team has won back-to-back World Cups since Brazil in 1958 and 1962. If Messi is managed carefully through the group stage and arrives at the knockouts fresh, they can beat anyone. France await in a hypothetical final rematch — and Scaloni has beaten them before.