Argentina vs Saudi Arabia World Cup lineup, starting 11 for Group C match at Qatar 2022

Dom Farrell

Argentina vs Saudi Arabia World Cup lineup, starting 11 for Group C match at Qatar 2022 image

Lionel Messi will begin his final tilt at World Cup glory when Argentina take on Saudi Arabia in Group C.

The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner looks like he might have a set of teammates finally worthy of his talents, with the Albiceleste resurgent under Lionel Scaloni.

Argentina beat Brazil 1-0 thanks to an Angel Di Maria goal to end a 28-year wait for a major trophy in last year's Copa America.

They head into the game on a 36-match unbeaten run, meaning Saudi Arabia — ranked 51st in the world and under well-travelled coach Herve Renard — are likely to have their work cut out.

Below are the lineups for both teams.

MORE: When is Argentina vs Saudi Arabia at FIFA World Cup? Updated TV schedule, time, odds

Argentina vs Saudi Arabia lineups

Lionel Messi insists he is in "good condition" ahead of Argentina's World Cup opener after the Paris Saint-Germain forward prompted fears by sitting out parts of his team's training sessions.

"I think I come here in really good form both personally and physically. I have no issues whatsoever," he told a pre-match news conference.

"I heard there were rumours about having to miss part of the training, or training apart from the team because of a blow. No, it was just precautions — nothing strange or out of the ordinary."

Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni has explained the strains placed upon his squad by a mid-season World Cup.

"We've had to work very well in our training sessions so they all reach these finals in the best form possible. The issue is not that the World Cup is played in November, it's that October was terrible," he said.

"For those players who play in the major leagues, it was a very tough month."

Below are the starting lineups for both teams for their match at Lusail Stadium on Tuesday, November 22.

Argentina starting 11

(4-2-3-1, right to left): 23. E. Martinez (GK) — 26. Molina, 13. Romero, 19. Otamendi, 3. Tagliafico — 7. De Paul, 5. Paredes, — 11. Di Maria 10. Messi, 17. Gomez — 22. Martinez

  • Injured: Acuna (knock)
  • Suspended: none

Defender Cristian Romero (muscular) did not play in his nation's 5-0 warmup win against the United Arab Emirates but will start.

Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez was thought likely to accompany Nicolas Otamendi if Romero was not fit but is on the bench, while Nicolas Tagliafico stands in for Marcos Acuna at left-back.

Rodrigo De Paul and Leandro Paredes start in midfield after Giovani Lo Celso's injury absence amounted to Scaloni's major pre-tournament headache. Benfica's highly rated former River Plate youngster Enzo Fernandez is on the bench.

Saudi Arabia starting 11

(4-5-1, right to left): 21. Al-Owais (GK) — 12. Abdulhamid, 17. Tambakti, 5. Al-Boleahi, 13. Al-Shahrani — 9. Al-Buraikan 23. Kanno, 8. Al-Malki, 7. Al-Faraj, 10. Al-Dawsari — 11. Al-Shehri

  • Injured: none
  • Suspended: none

Saudi Arabia's Saleh Al-Shehri returned from an Achilles tear in October. The centre-forward for Saudi Pro League team Al-Hilal has been declared fully fit for the game.

Winger Fahad al-Muwallad will not be involved, having been dropped from the squad as a 'precaution' due to failing a doping test back in February.

Argentina vs Saudi Arabia World Cup squads

Here are the 26 names on each team's squad lists at the World Cup in Qatar:

Argentina

Position Player Club Age Caps
Goalkeeper Franco Armani River Plate (ARG) 36 18
Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez Aston Villa (ENG) 30 19
Goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli Villarreal (SPA) 30 4
Defender Marcos Acuna Sevilla (SPA) 30 43
Defender Juan Foyth Villarreal (SPA) 24 16
Defender Lisandro Martinez Man United (ENG) 24 10
Defender Nahuel Molina Atletico Madrid (SPA) 24 19
Defender Gonzalo Montiel Sevilla (SPA) 25 19
Defender Nicolas Otamendi Benfica (POR) 34 93
Defender German Pezzella Real Betis (SPA) 31 32
Defender Cristian Romero Tottenham (ENG) 24 12
Defender Nicolas Tagliafico Lyon (FRA) 30 42
Midfielder Rodrigo De Paul Atletico Madrid (SPA) 28 44
Midfielder Enzo Fernandez Benfica (POR) 21 3
Midfielder Alejandro 'Papu' Gomez Sevilla (SPA) 34 15
Midfielder Alexis Mac Allister Brighton (ENG) 23 8
Midfielder Exequiel Palacios Bayer Leverkusen (GER) 24 20
Midfielder Leandro Paredes Juventus (ITA) 28 46
Midfielder Guido Rodriguez Real Betis (SPA) 28 26
Forward Julian Alvarez Man City (ENG) 22 12
Forward Thiago Almada** Atlanta United (USA) 21 1
Forward Angel Di Maria Juventus (ITA) 34 124
Forward Paulo Dybala AS Roma (ITA) 28 34
Forward Angel Correa* Atletico Madrid 25 22
Forward Lautaro Martinez Inter Milan (ITA) 25 40
Forward Lionel Messi PSG (FRA) 35 165

*Replaced the injured Nicolas Gonzalez 

**Replaced the injured Joaquin Correa

Saudi Arabia

Position Player Club Age Caps
Goalkeeper Mohamed Al-Owais Al Hilal (KSA) 31 33
Goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi Al Nassr (KSA) 22 0
Goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Yami Al Ahli (KSA) 25 7
Defender Yasser Al-Shahrani Al Hilal (KSA) 30 61
Defender Ali Al-Boleahi Al Hilal (KSA) 32 28
Defender Abdulelah Al-Amri Al Nassr (KSA) 25 13
Defender Abdullah Madu Al Nassr (KSA) 29 12
Defender Hassan Tambakti Al Shabab (KSA) 23 11
Defender Sultan Al-Ghannam Al Nassr (KSA) 28 17
Defender Mohammed Al-Burayk Al Hilal (KSA) 30 28
Defender Saud Abdulhamid Al Hilal (KSA) 23 14
Midfielder Salman Al-Faraj Al Hilal (KSA) 33 56
Midfielder Riyadh Sharahili Abha (KSA) 29 2
Midfielder Ali Al-Hassan Al Nassr (KSA) 25 9
Midfielder Mohamed Kanno Al Hilal (KSA) 28 25
Midfielder Abdulelah Al-Malki Al Hilal (KSA) 28 16
Midfielder Sami Al-Najei Al Nassr (KSA) 25 14
Midfielder Abdullah Otayf Al Hilal (KSA) 30 37
Midfielder Nasser Al-Dawsari Al Hilal (KSA) 23 8
Midfielder Abdulrahman Al-Obood Al Ittihad (KSA) 27 1
Midfielder Salem Al-Dawsari Al Hilal (KSA) 31 53
Midfielder Hattan Bahebri Al Shabab (KSA) 30 30
Forward Fahad Al-Muwallad Al Shabab (KSA) 28 62
Forward Haitham Asiri Al Ahli (KSA) 21 4
Forward Saleh Al-Shehri Al Hilal (KSA) 29 10
Forward Firas Al-Buraikan Al Fateh (KSA) 22 20

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Dom Farrell

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Dom is the senior content producer for Sporting News UK. He previously worked as fan brands editor for Manchester City at Reach Plc. Prior to that, he built more than a decade of experience in the sports journalism industry, primarily for the Stats Perform and Press Association news agencies. Dom has covered major football events on location, including the entirety of Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup in Paris and St Petersburg respectively, along with numerous high-profile Premier League, Champions League and England international matches. Cricket and boxing are his other major sporting passions and he has covered the likes of Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, Wladimir Klitschko, Gennadiy Golovkin and Vasyl Lomachenko live from ringside.