In their eagerly awaited World Cup opener, reigning champions Argentina face Algeria on Tuesday with full faith that Lionel Messi can lead them in the defence of their crown, a feat that has proved impossible for the past six decades.
Ending the back-to-back title curse, which has endured since Brazil's triumphs in 1958 and 1962, is Messi's sole objective at the sixth World Cup of his career.
The Argentine skipper, who will be joined by Cristiano Ronaldo in matching that record a day later, turns 39 in a matter of days but remains the biggest attraction in world football.
Since his World Cup debut in 2006, everything in Argentina has revolved around the number 10, now freed from pressure and past traumas after finally lifting the coveted trophy in Qatar 2022.
For the Inter Miami playmakrer, this World Cup on home soil is a gift he did not even expect after his triumph in Doha.
Messi did not want to abandon his teammates on this mission and will lead Argentina out on Tuesday at Kansas City's stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 8pm local time, 10pm Buenos Aires.
The Rosario-born star's physical condition remains the biggest question mark, despite having had Major League Soccer at his feet for the past three years, scoring 62 goals in 67 matches.
Messi found Miami languishing near the bottom of the standings and led the club to last season's title, even if he is no longer the dazzling player who dominated European football, particularly with Barcelona.
His inexhaustible talent still makes him a threat both as a creator and from set pieces.
That weapon could also bring him closer to one of the few records he has yet to claim: the World Cup scoring record, held by Miroslav Klose with 16 goals, three more than the Argentine.
To mount a serious challenge for the title, however, Messi will need the support of a squad that has become accustomed to winning under Lionel Scaloni.
Álvarez or Lautaro?
Scaloni, the architect of Argentina's Copa América triumphs in 2021 and 2024 as well, has not been spared selection headaches during preparations for the tournament.
Argentina will be unable to field their strongest starting eleven in the opener due to an injury to left-back Nicolás Tagliafico.
Goalkeeper Emiliano 'Dibu' Martínez is still dealing with discomfort from a recent fracture to a finger on his right hand, but he is expected to start.
Aside from replacing Tagliafico, likely by deploying one of the centre-backs, Lisandro Martínez or Facundo Medina, at left-back, the main question concerns Messi's attacking partner.
Julián Álvarez, the striker coveted by both Real Madrid and Barcelona, is trying to recover from an ankle problem, but Scaloni could opt to rest him in favour of Lautaro Martínez.
The rest of the side is expected to feature Nahuel Molina or Gonzalo Montiel at right-back, centre-backs Cristian Romero and Nicolás Otamendi, and midfielders Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister and Thiago Almada.
Algeria threat
Algeria will be Argentina's first hurdle in Group J, while Austria and Jordan await in Dallas on June 22 and June 27.
To avoid complacency against the North African side, Argentina need only remember their stunning defeat to Saudi Arabia in their opening match of Qatar 2022, which left them under pressure for the remainder of the group stage.
Algeria issued a warning by defeating the Netherlands in a friendly earlier this month, and their squad includes several familiar names.
One of them is Luca Zidane, who will keep goal for the country of his grandparents as Algeria return to the World Cup after missing the previous two editions.
Born in Marseille like his father, the legendary Zinedine Zidane, the goalkeeper developed at Real Madrid and will share the spotlight with the team's star player, Riyad Mahrez.
The former Manchester City forward, now 35, will captain the unveiling of a new Algerian generation, most of whom were born in European countries.
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by Guillermo Barros, AFP
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