Argentina begin their World Cup with Saudi Arabia on November 22. So, HITC Football has looked at who joins Lionel Messi in their best XI from Lionel Scaloni’s squad at Qatar 2022.
La Albiceleste head for the first of FIFA’s quadrennial tournaments to be held in the Middle East to compete in Group C. Scaloni’s side will meet Saudi Arabia in Lusail first of all before matches with Mexico on the 26th in Lusail and Poland on the 30th at Stadium 974 in Doha.
Argentina have not won a World Cup title since the South Americans lifted their second to date in 1986. They won their maiden crown on home soil in 1978, while Qatar 2022 marks an 18th appearance across 22 editions. La Albiceleste have not failed to qualify since 1970.
Argentina boss Scaloni named Messi in his fifth World Cup squad with Qatar 2022
Messi has played at four World Cups ahead of Qatar 2022 after games in 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018. He also captained Argentina to the final at Brazil 2014 after carrying his country out of Group F with four goals. It was the 165-cap icon’s most prolific tournament to date.
Scaloni has now named the Rosario native in his fifth World Cup squad as Argentina target glory at Qatar 2022. But injuries forced the Albiceleste boss to make changes with Nicolas Gonzalez (femoral biceps) and Joaquin Correa (Achilles tendon) since forced to withdraw.
Scaloni tweaks his 26-man World Cup squad as Argentina suffer two injuries
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has shared that Angel Correa replaced Gonzalez and called up Thiago Almada to replace Correa. They join the other 24 players that Scaloni originally announced were in his 26-man Argentina squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Goalkeepers: Franco Armani (River Plate), Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Geronimo Rulli (Villarreal)
Defenders: Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United), Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur), Gonzalo Montiel, Marcos Acuna (Sevilla), German Pezzella (Real Betis), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid), Juan Foyth (Villarreal), Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon)
Midfielders: Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton & Hove Albion), Alejandro Gomez (Sevilla), Enzo Fernandez (Benfica), Leandro Paredes (Juventus), Guido Rodriquez (Real Betis), Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen)
Forwards: Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain), Paulo Dybala (Roma), Angel Correa (Atletico Madrid), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan), Thiago Almada (Atlanta United), Angel Di Maria (Juventus), Julian Alvarez (Manchester City)
So, with the 2022 World Cup in Qatar about to start, HITC Football has taken a look at who can join Messi in Scaloni’s best possible XI from La Albiceleste’s tweaked 26-man squad…
Emiliano Martinez (GK): The Aston Villa star is a mainstay of Argentina’s squad
Aston Villa shot-stopper Emiliano Martinez is a mainstay of the Argentina squad before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The £17m star has been Scaloni’s number one since his debut in June 2021 for 19 caps. He has also kept 14 clean sheets for his country in all competitions.
Nahuel Molina (RB): Scaloni trusts Atletico Madrid’s summer signing from Udinese
Scaloni trusts Molina to serve as Argentina’s first-choice option at right-back. He has given the 24-year-old 20 caps since his debut in June 2021. Now, the Embalse native should add World Cup games to his record after joining Atletico Madrid from Udinese in the summer.
Cristian Romero (CB): The Tottenham star helped Scaloni win the 2021 Copa America
Romero helped Argentina win the Copa America in 2021 just weeks after Scaloni afforded the Tottenham star his Albiceleste debut. The £42.5m defender earned the first of his 12 caps to date in June 2021. One month later, and he started their 1-0 final win over Brazil.
Lisandro Martinez (CB): Scaloni is starting the trust the Manchester United star
Scaloni has started to trust Martinez with a greater role in the Argentina squad in view of the World Cup. The £57m Manchester United star made his debut under the Albiceleste boss in March 2019. Yet he has only earned 10 caps to date while six have also come during 2022.
Nicolas Tagliafico (LB): The Lyon star will want to avenge their Russia 2018 run
Tagliafico is one member of the Argentina squad returning to the World Cup stage in 2022. He started all four of their fixtures at Russia 2018 but could not help coach Jorge Sampaoli avoid a last 16 defeat to France. The 42-cap left-back will now want to avenge their result.
Angel Di Maria (RM): Scaloni will hope the fourth time’s the charm in Qatar
Argentina boss Scaloni will hope the fourth time’s the charm for Di Maria after naming the 34-year-old in his World Cup squad for Qatar 2022. The 124-cap star featured at the 2010, 2014 and 2018 editions. But Di Maria has only struck two goals and no assists in 13 games.
Leandro Paredes (CM): The Juventus star will anchor Argentina’s plans in Qatar
Paredes will likely anchor Argentina’s midfield in Qatar over the Juventus star’s first World Cup. Sampaoli gave the 46-cap ace his debut in 2017 but Paredes struggled to establish his role before Russia 2018. Yet he has been a mainstay of their side since the FIFA event.
Rodrigo De Paul (CM): The Atletico Madrid ace is integral to Scaloni’s plans
De Paul is an integral player in Scaloni’s plans having amassed 44 caps from 45 games over the 44-year-old’s 50 games in charge. The Atletico Madrid ace made his Argentina debut in October 2018 and has started 39 of his appearances so far for two goals and eight assists.
Alejandro Gomez (LM): A first and final World Cup awaits the Sevilla star
A first, and likely final, World Cup awaits Gomez in Qatar after making Argentina’s squad at 34 years old. The Sevilla star missed out on a spot for Russia 2018 after making his debut in June 2017. But it was not until June 2021 that the 15-cap winger became a regular option.
Lionel Messi (ST): The Argentina icon has confirmed Qatar 2022 is his last World Cup
Messi goes into Qatar 2022 knowing he is targeting a World Cup title in his last appearance for Argentina. The Albiceleste icon told Star+, via quotes by TN, in October: “My last World Cup? Yes, surely yes.” He finally lifted an international title in 2021 with the Copa America.
Julian Alvarez (ST): The Manchester City man is making a good partner for Messi
Alvarez is making a good partner for Messi with Scaloni shaping his Argentina XI in a 4-4-2. The Manchester City striker has scored three goals over his 12 caps and has started four of his last six. He also heads for Qatar after seven goals in 20 games for the Citizens this term.
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