Argentina vs Algeria Starting XI: Messi starts, reaching 200 caps milestone, first to play in six World Cups

At 9:00 PM Beijing time on June 17, a key match in Group J of the World Cup begins, as defending champions Argentina face Algeria at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, USA. The starting lineups have been revealed.

Messi takes the field at 38, reaching the milestone of 200 international caps. Additionally, as Ochoa hasn't played yet and Ronaldo debuted a day later, Messi becomes the first player to participate in six World Cups.

[Starting Lineups]

Argentina Starting XI (4-3-3)

Goalkeeper: 23-Damián Damian Martinez

Defenders: 4-Montiel, 13-Romero, 6-Lisandro, 25-Medina

Midfielders: 7-De Paul, 24-Enzo, 20-Mac Allister

Forwards: 10-Messi, 22-Lautaro, 16-Almada

Substitutes: 1-Juan Musso, 12-Rulli, 2-Senesi, 3-Tagliafico, 19-Otamendi, 26-Molina, 5-Paredes, 8-Barco, 11-Lo Celso, 14-Palacios, 18-Nico Paz, 9-Alvarez, 15-Nico Gonzalez, 17-Giuliano Simeone, 21-Jose Lopez

Algeria Starting XI (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: 23-Luca Zidane

Defenders: 17-Belghali, 21-Bensebaini, 2-Aïssa Mandi, 15-Aït-Nouri

Defensive midfielders: 14-Hichem Boudaoui, 19-Bentaleb

Attacking midfielders: 22-Ibrahim Maza, 10-Fares Chaïbi, 11-Hadi Moussa

Forward: 9-Gouiri

Substitutes: 1-Melvin Mastier, 16-Benbot, 3}, 4-Tougaï, 5-Zinedine Ferhat, 13-Haddam, 26-Chergui, 6-Ramiz Zerrouki, 8-Aouar, 24-Yasin Titraoui, 7-Mahrez, 12-Nadir Benbuali, 18-Mohamed Amoura, 20-Adil Boulbina, 25-Fares Ghejjemis

Referee: Marciniak (Poland)

[Head-to-Head Record]

The two teams have met only once, in a friendly on June 6, 2007, where Argentina won 4-3, with a then-under-20 Messi scoring a brace.

Argentina has a strong record against African teams in the World Cup, having won all six previous encounters, five of which were against Nigeria.

[Team Overview]

Argentina has qualified for the World Cup 18 times, winning the title three times in 1978, 1986, and 2022. Algeria is making their fifth appearance, returning after a 12-year hiatus. In the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Algeria reached the round of 16, their best-ever performance.