Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 08:41pm on 16 Jun 2026,Tuesday Sports
Lionel Messi is set to make his 200th appearance for Argentina when the world champions face Algeria in their FIFA World Cup 2026 opener on Wednesday. The 39-year-old captain will become only the second player to reach the milestone in international football. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni praised Messi's global appeal, saying, "Everybody wants to see him play." Messi is expected to start after recovering from a minor hamstring concern. Defending champions Argentina begin their title defence as favourites, but Algeria will look to cause an upset in the Group H clash in Kansas City. (PC: Reuters)
