The wait is finally over for the reigning world champions. As La Albiceleste prepares to step onto the pitch at the Kansas City Stadium in Missouri for their 2026 FIFA World Cup Group J opener, the narrative is rich with emotion, grit, and milestones.

Lionel Scaloni’s side isn’t just focused on starting their title defense with three points; they are welcoming back their talismanic goalkeeper while their iconic captain stands on the precipice of absolute footballing history.

Here is how Argentina is expected to line up for this highly anticipated clash.

The Return of ‘Dibu’: Martinez Cleared for Action

The biggest collective sigh of relief across Argentina this week came from the training ground. Golden Glove holder Emiliano “Dibu” Martinez has been officially passed fit to reclaim his spot between the sticks.

The Aston Villa shot-stopper gave fans a massive scare after suffering a fractured ring finger in May, which kept him completely out of the pre-tournament warm-up matches against Honduras and Iceland. However, Martinez has thrown on both gloves, trained without restrictions, and is ready to anchor the defense from the back.

In front of him, the defensive wall gets a slight tactical reshuffle. While Leonardo Balerdi was tragically ruled out of the entire tournament due to a calf injury (replaced in the squad by Marcos Senesi), the starting center-back pairing remains elite. Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez is set to partner Cristian Romero at the heart of the defense, flanked by Nahuel Molina and the experienced Nicolas Tagliafico.

Midfield Muscle and Messi’s Historic Milestone

In the engine room, Scaloni has dynamic flexibility. Midfield enforcer Leandro Paredes has successfully shaken off a hamstring issue, providing a massive boost off the bench if needed. However, the starting trio will likely feature the familiar, battle-tested engine that conquered Qatar.

Rodrigo De Paul will bring his trademark tireless work rate, while Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez dictates the tempo from deep. Alongside them, Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister will offer the creative transitions needed to unlock a stubborn Algerian shape.

Up front, all eyes naturally gravitate toward the legendary number 10. Lionel Messi is fully fit and poised to create even more history. Stepping onto the pitch for this opener cements his status in an elite tier of longevity and greatness. He will be joined in a fluid front three by Atletico Madrid’s relentless forward Julian Alvarez and the explosive Nicolas Gonzalez.

Predicted Argentina Starting XI vs. Algeria: Emiliano Martinez, Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico, Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister, Lionel Messi, Julian Alvarez, Nicolas Gonzalez

Algeria presents a unique physical and technical test, but with Emi Martinez back to command his area and Messi motivated to orchestrate another masterpiece, Argentina possesses the perfect blend of structural security and attacking flair to kickstart their campaign with a statement victory.