Argentina vs Algeria LIVE Score, FIFA World Cup 2026 Match Updates: Lionel Messi becomes the player with the player to represent his nation in the most number of FIFA World Cup, as Argentina take on Algeria in Kansaas City.
After going through a few injury issues in the past few weeks, Messi starts for Argentina as the defending champions kick off their campaign in the Group J. The match presents the second-ever meeting between the nations, with Argentina claiming a 4-2 victory in an international friendly in 2007 in their only previous encounter. La Albiceleste make their 19th overall and 14th consecutive appearance at a FIFA World Cup, having won the tournament in 1978, 1986, and 2022. They ensured they would be able to defend their World Cup title by qualifying in emphatic fashion with five games to spare. They finished top of the CONMEBOL standings, nine points clear of closest challengers Ecuador.