KANSAS CITY —Argentina’s bid to become the first back-to-back World Cup champion in 62 years begins on Tuesday.
The match against Algeria in Kansas City, Missouri, also marks the start of the sixth and possibly final World Cup for Lionel Messi.
One of the best players of a generation turns 39 later this month and is widely expected to retire from international competition following this year’s expanded 48-team tournament.
Messi added the one thing missing from his impressive resume with the 2022 World Cup win in Qatar. Now he’s hoping to lead the Argentines to the first consecutive World Cup titles since Brazil in 1962.
Messi needs four more goals to surpass Germany’s Miroslav Klose’s World Cup record of 16, but his body is starting to show signs of wear. He’s been dealing with muscle fatigue and a hamstring strain that led to his substitution during Inter Miami’s final match before the World Cup.
Messi sat out Argentina’s friendly against Honduras in hopes of being healthy for what will likely be his last hurrah on the World Cup stage.
— Argentina vs. Algeria, 9 p.m. EDT in Kansas City, Missouri (FS1/Telemundo/Peacock)