Lautaro Martínez is expected to start alongside Lionel Messi in Argentina’s 2026 FIFA World Cup opener against Algeria.

The Inter Milan striker arrives in excellent form after helping his club win the Serie A title and is set to lead the attack for Lionel Scaloni’s team. His main competition for the spot, Julián Álvarez, missed Argentina’s recent friendly matches due to discomfort in one of his ankles but has since recovered.

According to reports, Scaloni’s plan is to give Álvarez some minutes off the bench if the match situation allows it.

Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martínez are set to start as Argentina’s central defensive pairing in Tuesday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup opener against Algeria, according to journalist Gastón Edul.

In recent training sessions, coach Lionel Scaloni tested both a back four and a back five as he evaluated his options following Nicolás Tagliafico’s injury. However, it appears that Scaloni has decided to stick with a more traditional four-man defense for the team’s opening match.

Romero and Martínez were regular starters during Argentina’s successful 2024 Copa America campaign and have formed one of the national team’s most trusted defensive partnerships in recent years.

Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni spoke about the team, Lionel Messi and Emiliano Martínez.

Lionel Scaloni held a press conference on Monday with Nicolás Otamendi where he spoke about the team. Here is what he had to say:

“We are calm and we will face a good team. We are arriving at a good moment.

“We are in the same state as the first day, balance is the word. We try our best for our national team, our country. Beyond the results, we have stayed calm and commited.”

Scaloni also spoke about Lionel Messi:

“Leo has always been there and has always been fundamental, now he will be even more so and he looks good. Julián bad the ankle problem but his recovery has born fruit and for tomorrow, he is available and is an option.”

On Emiliano Martínez:

“Emiliano is fine. If everything continues well, I think he’s going to play.

“We always try out variants, they are situations that can arrise at the start or during the match. The essence of the team will be the same but yes, we have tried options.

“In recent years, we have reached this situation because we were able to decompress a bit. Playing calmly was the key. And yes, in any case, tension is felt, it happens to everyone but it’s important to feel proud of giving everything no matter what happens.

“I think we are going to face a good team, Algeria has earned its place at the World Cup. There have been matches that demonstrate this in this tournament, there are no easy games.

“Algeria have good players up front and midfielders with a good touch. They also have the ability to adapt to different schemes. They are a team to respect and will surely make things difficilult for us.”

Nicolás Otamendi spoke at a press conference on Monday.

Otamendi was the player with Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni who spoke at a press conference. Here is what he had to say:

“I enjoy these moments because it will be my last World Cup with the national team. I enjoy the competition, the day to day, my team mates. This is my fourth World Cup and it’s wonderful to defend the colors of my country.

“We are preparing to compete, I think we have to be humble and work to face this competition. We arrive in good shape and we are giving it our all because we know everyone will want to beat us.

“I think the young players in the national team are getting more and more involved, they put the senior players in a situation of healthy competition and that makes it that Argentina keep giving its all to reach the final stages.

“When Qatar was over, I didn’t know if I would be here but I mentally prepared myself to keep going and seized the moments. I got ready in the best way possible thanks to the competition and I am grateful for the chance I have today.

“We needed to be able to unlock those moments when we had to play finals and couldn’t win. We made the click by winning at the Maracanã and we are very aware of what came after, of the country’s unity and what happened in Qatar.”

Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni haa two formations in mind for the match against Algeria.

Lionel Scaloni will be without Nicolás Tagliafico who will miss the Argentina national team’s match against Algeria at the World Cup. According to Diego Monroig, Acaloni has two formations in mind.

The first is with a four man backline with Facundo Medina, Nicolás Otamendi, Cristian Romero and Gonzalo Montiel with Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister and Rodrigo De Paul in midfield. The second is with a three man backline with Lisandro Martínez, Nicolás Otamendi and Cristian Romero with Nicolás González, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister, Rodrigo De Paul and Giuliano Simeone in midfield.