Argentina arrive as defending champions with a draw that rewards control, rotation, and efficient game management before the knockout rounds.
Argentina's midfield security and Messi's role between lines should let them slow games down, but Austria's press and Algeria's carriers make transition control important.
Key question: Can Argentina manage Messi's minutes while keeping enough pressing intensity to control Group J?
Knockout ceiling: Title contender if the midfield remains compact and the attack does not become too dependent on one creator.
Messi at 38. Álvarez and Fernández leading the next generation. Can Scaloni's Argentina do what only Brazil has ever done — defend the World Cup?
Argentina won 2022 with Di María, Kun Agüero's spirit, and the greatest individual performance in World Cup history. In 2026, Messi is 38 and the squad has changed.
Defending champions Argentina open their 2026 campaign. Messi is 38. The squad has evolved. The pressure of defending a title is unlike anything else in football.