Lionel Scaloni’s new Argentina team can aim for everything, especially with a more comfortable Messi after winning the Copa America in 2021. They may not be a star-studded team, but they are well organized, competitive, and difficult to break down. In fact, they have gone 31 games without losing, their greatest unbeaten streak in history. Be wary of Messi, who has set his eyes on winning his final World Cup. Below Team Analysis: Argentina Squad FIFA World Cup 2022
Lionel Messi will be a man on a mission in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, and Argentina will be there to support him.
The 35-year-old superstar is trying to capture the sport’s most coveted prize, something that has eluded him in his previous four efforts, as the pinnacle of his illustrious career. His announcement that this will be his final World Cup has already been made.
Although Brazil and France are the two pre-tournament favorites, Argentina winning the Global Cup in December is a very likely scenario considering the string of victories that manager Lionel Scaloni has orchestrated: a 35-match unbeaten streak that is just three short of the world record.
Scaloni has subtly shaped this team since taking over in 2018, and his efforts culminated in the 2021 Copa America victory on Brazilian soil, giving Messi his first trophy with the senior national team and finally relieving him of the criticism that followed him on his trips for his country.
After shredding Euro champs Italy earlier this summer, Argentina’s popularity is only growing, especially with what appears to be an advantageous draw and path to the final in Qatar.
Argentina Squad FIFA World Cup 2022
Three days before the FIFA-imposed deadline, on Friday, November 11, Scaloni announced his final 26-man roster.
The FIFA asked manager Scaloni to submit an official preliminary list of 35–55 players by Friday, October 21. By Monday, November 14, Scaloni was obliged to name his final 26-player team for Qatar from this list.
The final 26-man list is shown here.
Position | Player | Club | Age | Caps |
Goalkeeper | Franco Armani | River Plate (ARG) | 36 | 18 |
Goalkeeper | Emiliano Martinez | Aston Villa (ENG) | 30 | 18 |
Goalkeeper | Geronimo Rulli | Villarreal (ESP) | 30 | 4 |
Defender | Marcos Acuna | Sevilla (ESP) | 30 | 42 |
Defender | Juan Foyth | Villarreal (ESP) | 24 | 15 |
Defender | Lisandro Martinez | Man United (ENG) | 24 | 9 |
Defender | Nahuel Molina | Atletico Madrid (ESP) | 24 | 18 |
Defender | Gonzalo Montiel | Sevilla (ESP) | 25 | 18 |
Defender | Nicolas Otamendi | Benfica (POR) | 34 | 92 |
Defender | German Pezzella | Real Betis (ESP) | 31 | 31 |
Defender | Cristian Romero | Tottenham (ENG) | 24 | 12 |
Defender | Nicolas Tagliafico | Lyon (FRA) | 30 | 42 |
Midfielder | Rodrigo De Paul | Atletico Madrid (ESP) | 28 | 43 |
Midfielder | Enzo Fernandez | Benfica (POR) | 21 | 2 |
Midfielder | Alejandro ‘Papu’ Gomez | Sevilla (ESP) | 34 | 15 |
Midfielder | Alexis Mac Allister | Brighton (ENG) | 23 | 7 |
Midfielder | Exequiel Palacios | Bayer Leverkusen (GER) | 24 | 20 |
Midfielder | Leandro Paredes | Juventus (ITA) | 28 | 45 |
Midfielder | Guido Rodriguez | Real Betis (ESP) | 28 | 25 |
Forward | Julian Alvarez | Man City (ENG) | 22 | 11 |
Forward | Joaquin Correa | Inter Milan (ITA) | 28 | 18 |
Forward | Angel Di Maria | Juventus (ITA) | 34 | 123 |
Forward | Paulo Dybala | AS Roma (ITA) | 28 | 34 |
Forward | Nico Gonzalez | Fiorentina (ITA) | 24 | 21 |
Forward | Lautaro Martinez | Inter Milan (ITA) | 25 | 40 |
Forward | Lionel Messi | PSG (FRA) | 35 | 164 |
Argentina best player, national team strengths & weaknesses
Argentina must make the World Cup final or face elimination, but rather than burdening the Albiceleste, these expectations are actually motivating the team’s top player and his supporting cast.
Argentina’s performance at the 2021 Copa America was probably an indicator of what to anticipate from Scaloni’s team in Qatar: a compact team that is challenging to play against and one that is capable of patiently controlling a game before scoring with a moment of brilliance in front of goal from one of its elite attackers.
Best Player
Lionel Messi doesn’t have to do everything as he did in many of Argentina’s previous tournaments, when teammates would pass the ball to him in the hopes that he would come up with the game-winning play alone.
Messi’s function today is more of a facilitator. And by doing so, he avoids being required to do so on every attack and instead gets to choose the instances in which he feels he can dominate a game.
What is certain regarding Messi in Qatar is as follows: He will create space for his teammates with his crazy dribbling runs, scare opponents’ goalkeepers off their lines with his free kicks, and humiliate their defense with his slick passing. And he will tackle and compete for every ball as if it were his final game.
Strengths
Argentina’s ability to attack has always been one of their strengths in international competitions. However, the Albiceleste are in control of the game’s tempo this time around thanks to a tough, balanced, and incredibly skilled passing midfield.
On their nearly undefeated run, players like Leandro Paredes and Rodrigo De Paul frequently stood out. Argentina are probably winning a game if they are humming.
Paredes will occasionally be replaced by Guido Rodriguez in the deep-lying position, with the excellent Enzo Fernandez ready to come off the bench and add an offensive, creative spark if the club needs it.
Weaknesses
If they can field their first-choice starting XI, this team doesn’t have many weaknesses. Although it hasn’t yet harmed them, the goalie position is the team’s Achilles’ heel.
Emiliano “Dibu” Martinez of Aston Villa has developed a cult following for his starting performances for his nation, particularly in penalty shootouts where he transforms into an Argentina player. However, his performances for his club team have been inconsistent thus far, and if he’s off, their final line of defense could be exposed.
Argentina Group FIFA World Cup 2022
Even though Mexico has historically provided them with challenging World Cup matches, No. 3-ranked Argentina should win Group C with a team that is superior to the other three opponents.
Messi and his colleagues should be able to warm up their engines before the crucial battle against Mexico during the opening match against Saudi Arabia. First place might be on the line in the decisive game versus Poland.
Date | Match | Time (ET) | Stadium |
Tues, Nov. 22 | Argentina vs. S. Arabia | 5 a.m. | Lusail Stadium |
Tues, Nov. 22 | Mexico vs. Poland | 11 a.m. | Stadium 974 |
Sat, Nov. 26 | Poland vs. S. Arabia | 8 a.m. | Education City Stadium |
Sat, Nov. 26 | Argentina vs. Mexico | 2 p.m. | Lusail Stadium |
Wed, Nov. 30 | Poland vs. Argentina | 2 p.m. | Stadium 974 |
Wed, Nov. 30 | S. Arabia vs. Mexico | 2 p.m. | Lusail Stadium |
Argentina Projected starting XI
GK: Emiliano Martinez
DFs: Acuña — Cristian Romero — Nicolas Otamendi — Montiel
MFs: Rodrigo De Paul — Leandro Paredes — Lo Celso
FWs: Angel Di Maria — Lionel Messi — Lautaro Martinez
Argentina Line-Up (1-4-3-3)

Spain Coach FIFA World Cup 2022
LIONEL SCALONI
After winning the Copa America last sum-mer, Scaloni has managed to put together a very solid team with character and qual-ity, with no internal or external feuds.
Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2022 Teams and Meet the full list of qualified countries