How will Argentina line up at the 2022 World Cup?

Updated: 16 Nov 2022 14:52 GMT
3 min read

Lionel Messi lifts 2021 Copa America trophy for Argentina — © ProShots

Argentina go into the World Cup in Qatar full of motivation to end their 36-year drought without winning football’s biggest prize, and they are one of the favourites.

The Albiceleste have been in inspired form since 2019, and are currently on a 35-game unbeaten run having won the Copa America in 2021 as part of it.

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Led by Lionel Messi and with a supporting cast to match, they have formed a unique bond required by any World Cup winner and this could finally be their year.

So, with a squad filled with positivity, boosted by recent form and the motivation to give Messi the best possible World Cup send-off, how will they line up in Qatar?

Messi to lead talented Argentina

In goal, Emiliano Martinez is the undisputed number one having had a starring role for Argentina since 2021, when his heroics inspired the Copa America success that year.

At right-back, there are two options in Gonzalo Montiel and Naheul Molina but it’s likely that the former starts more frequently having performed better.

At centre-back, Cristian Romero has been the undisputed starter and although Nicholas Otamendi has been preferred, Lisandro Martinez’s fine form for Manchester United lately should earn him the nod.

On the left, Sevilla’s Marcos Acuna should get in having established himself as the first-choice under Lionel Scaloni over Nicolas Tagliafico.

In midfield, Argentina will be hampered by the late injury suffered by Giovanni Lo Celso, who was an integral part of the team under Scaloni.

They do, however, still have strong options in that area: Leandro Paredes and Rodrigo De Paul have proven hard to drop in recent times and should make two of the three.

They are likely to be joined by Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister, who should get in ahead of Benfica’s Enzo Fernandez and Real Betis’ Guido Rodriguez.

In attack, of course, Lionel Messi will continue as the captain and he will be the focal point of the team with the forward line being inspired by him.

He will be joined by Angel Di Maria – also likely playing his last World Cup having starred for Argentina on so many occasions in the past.

Leading the line will be the trusted Inter star Lautaro Martinez who has established himself as Scaloni’s first-choice forward over the last few years.

There’s a strong supporting cast as well, as evident from the names above while the likes of Julian Alvarez, German Pezzala, Papu Gomez and Paulo Dybala can also help out.