Lionel Messi doesn’t need reminding what’s at stake. Neither does anyone in the Argentina camp.
As the world champions prepare to open their title defence against Algeria in Kansas City — kickoff 2am UK time on Wednesday — the messaging from inside the squad is unmistakable. The 38-year-old isn’t just along for the ride at his sixth World Cup. He’s still the man they build everything around.
“He Doesn’t Let You Relax”
Nicolas Otamendi didn’t dress it up. “He’s a competitive animal,” the defender told reporters, describing Messi’s relentless drive as a constant source of inspiration for the squad.
It’s the kind of line that sounds like praise until you sit with it. Competitive animals don’t coast. They don’t take World Cup number six as a victory lap.
Otamendi went further, calling Messi simply “the best player in history” — then added the part that says more about the dressing room than the trophy cabinet: “We have lived many beautiful moments together.” He described his captain as someone who still treats training like it matters, still shows up early, still sets the tone nobody else has to enforce.
That’s the influence Scaloni was talking about too. “Everyone wants to see him out on the pitch, not just Argentines, because of the impact he has on people,” the head coach said. “He has always been crucial for us and now he will be even more so. He looks good.”
Now even more so. Read that again. Not less — more.
The Form Is There
Messi heading into a sixth World Cup at 38 invites the obvious question: how much is left in the tank. The recent answers have been reassuring. A muscle scare last month forced him off early against Philadelphia. He came back fine. Scoring fine, in fact — a penalty in Argentina’s warm-up win over Iceland, a cameo that looked anything but rusty.
Nobody in this squad is pretending Messi is twenty-five. They’re simply pointing out he’s still the difference, and that the team is built to let him be exactly that.
Scaloni’s Calm Card: Qatar Taught Them Patience
There’s a second story here, and it’s about nerves — or the lack of them. Argentina lost their World Cup opener four years ago. To Saudi Arabia. Then went on to win the whole thing.
Scaloni leaned on that memory deliberately. “The last World Cup taught us that the opening game isn’t decisive,” he said. “It’s important, sure, but we have the peace of mind of knowing it doesn’t end there.”
That’s not complacency talking. It’s a coach who’s already seen the worst-case opening scenario and watched his team win the trophy anyway.
He’s not ignoring the threat in front of him, either. Scaloni pointed to Brazil’s flat opening draw with Morocco and Spain’s stalemate against Cabo Verde as recent reminders that nothing is automatic in this tournament. “Algeria is an opponent similar to Morocco. They have great players and a great coach,” he said. “Algeria concerns us because they are a great team.”
Respect for the opponent. Confidence in the group. No fear of the scoreline if the start isn’t perfect. That’s the mix Scaloni is selling — and given where it took them in Qatar, nobody’s arguing.
What This Means
Messi remains the organizing principle of this Argentina side, not a passenger inside it. The language from Otamendi and Scaloni — competitive animal, always crucial, now even more so — isn’t routine captain-praise. It’s the squad signaling exactly where the weight of this campaign sits.
Argentina aren’t entering Group J pretending the pressure of defending a title is small. They’re entering it with the version of calm that only comes from having already lived through the worst version of a World Cup opener and survived it.
What Happens Next
Argentina face Algeria in Kansas City to open Group J, before meeting Austria on June 22 and Jordan on June 28. A repeat of 2022’s group-stage stumble wouldn’t panic this squad — but a strong start, with Messi delivering early, would go a long way toward making this World Cup feel like a coronation rather than a fight.
FAQ
When do Argentina play their World Cup opener? Argentina face Algeria in Kansas City in their Group J opener, kicking off at 2am UK time on Wednesday.
Why did Otamendi call Messi a “competitive animal”? Otamendi used the phrase to describe Messi’s relentless winning mentality and the standard he sets in training, saying the captain’s drive continues to push the entire squad.
Is Messi fully fit for the World Cup? Messi suffered a muscle fatigue scare with Inter Miami last month but returned soon after, including scoring a penalty in Argentina’s pre-tournament friendly win over Iceland.
Who else is in Argentina’s World Cup group? Argentina are in Group J alongside Algeria, Austria, and Jordan.
How did Argentina’s 2022 World Cup opener go? Argentina lost their opening match at the 2022 World Cup to Saudi Arabia before recovering to win the tournament — a result Scaloni has cited as proof the opener isn’t decisive.
