Argentina vs Algeria: Top five players to watch out for in FIFA World Cup 2026 ft Lionel Messi & Riyad Mahrez
Argentina and Algeria will be colliding for the first time since 2007
The defending champions, Argentina, will start their 2026 FIFA World Cup journey against Algeria at the Kansas City Stadium on June 17th.
La Albiceleste has won every international tournament it has participated in since 2021. Lionel Scaloni’s side had some Injury issues during the buildup to this tournament. Players like Lionel Messi, Emiliano Martínez, and Cuti Romero had some fitness concerns. However, their return is imminent, and Argentina is still one of the favourites to retain their title.
Algeria, on the other hand, are entering the tournament as an underdog. They have momentum on their side as they are unbeaten in their last four games against Bolivia, the Netherlands, Uruguay, and Guatemala. With experienced players like Riyad Mahrez, Ibrahim Maza, and Ismaël Bennacer, Algeria are expected to make life difficult for Argentina.
In this article, we will rank the top five players to keep an eye on in the upcoming game of Argentina vs Algeria in the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2026 Full Fixtures, Schedule, Results, Match Timings & Where to Watch
5. Aïssa Mandi (Algeria)
Algeria’s experienced defender will be one of the most important players in their clash against Argentina. Mandi is coming into this game on the back of an exceptional 2025/26 season with Lille. He is a strong and dominant presence in Algeria’s backline. Moreover, his reading of the game and ball-playing ability will allow Algeria to keep the ball under pressure.
4. Enzo Fernández (Argentina)
Enzo Fernández was crowned the best young player of the tournament during the 2022 edition of the competition. He is now arriving at the 2026 FIFA World Cup as one of the best players in the world.
He is versatile and can play all across the midfield. His ability to make late runs into the opposition box and play accurate long balls from the deep will be crucial to unlock Algeria’s defence.
3. Lisandro Martínez (Argentina)
Despite his injury concerns throughout the season, Lisandro Martínez has established himself as one of the best defenders in the world. He was impressive for the national team against Honduras and Iceland. He forms an equally effective partnership with both Cuti Romero and Nicolás Otamendi at the back.
2. Riyad Mahrez (Algeria)
The second spot on our list belongs to Algeria’s captain and arguably their best player, Riyad Mahrez. The winger had yet another successful club season with Al Ahli and will look to make the most of the momentum he and Algeria are carrying. His technical brilliance is second to none, and he will be a constant headache for Argentina’s backline.
1. Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Topping the list, without any surprise, is Argentina’s skipper, Lionel Messi. His importance to the Argentina national team cannot be described in mere words. Messi is the glue of the current Argentina setup, and he is still going strong despite his recent fitness concerns.
He is Argentina’s all-time leading goalscorer, and fans will be expecting another great performance from him against Algeria.
Will Lionel Messi play for Argentina against Algeria?
Yes, Lionel Messi is expected to start the game for Argentina against Algeria.
Will Riyad Mahrez play for Algeria against Argentina?
Yes, Riyad Mahrez is expected to start the game for Algeria against Argentina.
Who won the last head-to-head encounter between Argentina and Algeria?
The last game between these two teams ended in a 4-3 win for Argentina.
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Bhavya is a passionate and knowledgeable writer specializing in Football and WWE. With a deep-rooted passion for these sports dating back to 2013, he brings over a decade of insight and enthusiasm to every piece of writing.