June 16, Kathmandu – The world’s attention will be firmly on superstar Lionel Messi as defending champions Argentina face Algeria in the opening match of the FIFA World Cup 2026. It is no surprise given that Messi is currently considered the best player in world football. As captain of the team that brought Argentina its first World Cup trophy in 36 years, he performs on the field like a magician. In the match against Algeria, Messi is set to achieve a new milestone by becoming the first footballer ever to play in six consecutive FIFA World Cups. Additionally, he holds the record for the most World Cup matches played—26—and the game against Algeria will mark his 27th career World Cup appearance.
Furthermore, Messi will have the chance to secure another personal achievement. The Algeria match will be his 200th international cap for Argentina, making him the first player to reach this milestone with La Albiceleste. Recently, due to hamstring issues, Messi saw limited action during friendly matches as the focus shifted toward preserving his full fitness for the World Cup. Before the tournament, he entered the second half against Iceland in a friendly and even scored a goal. Under Messi’s captaincy, Argentina has arrived in the United States aiming once again to claim the World Cup title and will strive to start their campaign on a positive note against Algeria. The Group J clash between Argentina and Algeria is scheduled for Tuesday at 6:45 a.m. Nepal Standard Time.
As the reigning world champions, Argentina enters this World Cup as a top-seeded team. Algeria currently ranks 28th in the FIFA standings. Argentina aims to become the third nation globally, after Italy and Brazil, to win consecutive World Cup titles. Four years ago in Qatar, Argentina broke a 36-year title drought, but notably suffered an unexpected defeat in their opening match against Asian side Saudi Arabia. That loss served as a crucial lesson, motivating Argentina to win all remaining matches and ultimately claim the trophy. Consequently, Argentina will approach their first match against Algeria with utmost seriousness and determination.
