Argentina will have Lionel Messi available for their 2026 World Cup opener against Algeria, with Emiliano Martinez and Julian Alvarez also passed fit for the match.
The Albiceleste head into their Group J opening match as the defending champion and as favourites. Argentina have won seven consecutive matches in the build-up to the tournament and would have their full squad available.
Messi’s fitness has raised concerns over the past few weeks, with Alvarez’s ankle trouble included, and a fractured ring finger for goalkeeper Martinez.
However, manager Lionel Scaloni has reported a clean bill of health across his 26-man squad, with only veteran defender Nicolas Tagliafico requiring a final monitoring session before the line-up is officially finalised.
Addressing the pressure and expectations weighing on his star-studded squad, Scaloni urged for perspective while praising Messi enduring impact.
He stated: “Calm because it’s just a game of football. 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. Everyone wants to see [Leo] Messi inside the field, playing. He excited everyone, not just Argentines.
“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.
“Emiliano is okay, Emiliano is available for tomorrow, if he does the same thing he did yesterday and the day before I think he will play … Julian had an ankle problem but his recovery has been good and for tomorrow he is available and an option.”
Emiliano Martinez will also be available for Argentina. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
With Argentina blessed with various talent in all aspects of the game, Scaloni admitted that selecting a balanced starting eleven remains an incredibly difficult task.
He added: “I’ve always had difficulty [creating the starting 11] because of the quality of the players on the national team, beyond if we have an injured player which is not the case now.
“There are no injured players. We will just monitor the case of Nico Tagliafico, if he joins the team for training but in principle all players are available. I never had an inconvenience making the team. The inconvenience I did have was leaving behind great players, but equilibrium is principle. We play with 11 and we try to find equilibrium, so someone is left out but we are good.”
Argentina will tackle Algeria in their first game before their campaign progresses against Austria and Jordan.
