SAMSUL AREFIN KHAN

On the night of December 18, 2022, Argentine superstar Lionel Messi finally shook hands with paradise. Lifting the most coveted trophy in football, the FIFA World Cup, marked the emotional climax of an illustrious career long scarred by international heartbreak and near-misses.

That thrilling penalty-shootout victory over France at the Lusail Stadium completed football for Messi. Having won virtually everything at club level, the world title remained the one prize he craved, having come agonizingly close against Germany in 2014.

Winning it at age 35, many expected it to serve as the perfect curtain-call for his international career. Instead, he chose to continue selectively, opting to enjoy his football with the Albiceleste while wearing the coveted world champions badge on his chest.

His journey toward a record-breaking sixth World Cup appearance has been managed with utmost care. Over the past three seasons with Inter Miami in the US, Messi has adjusted his workload wisely, ensuring physical longevity without diminishing his devastating impact for his country.

He proved his enduring class by guiding Argentina to a second successive Copa America title in 2024 and finishing as top scorer in the South American qualifiers, where Argentina topped the standings.

The final confirmation arrived on May 28 this year, when head coach Lionel Scaloni included the 38-year-old captain, set to turn 39 during the tournament, in his final 26-member squad.

In his previous World Cups, Messi carried the suffocating expectations of a nation desperate to end a long title drought. This time, the atmosphere is completely altered. As Argentina prepares to launch its title defense against Riyad Mahrez’s Algeria -- who enter the tournament high on confidence after beating the Netherlands in a friendly -- the squad appears calm at its training base in Kansas City.

The 2022 triumph has completely lifted the historical burden, allowing the players to approach the tournament with a refreshing sense of freedom and focused maturity.

Scaloni has relied heavily on continuity, retaining 17 members of the triumphant roster from Qatar. Alongside Messi, Argentina boasts a lethal attacking unit featuring Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez, now injected with the raw energy of youngsters like Thiago Almada, Nicolas Paz, and Giuliano Simeone.

A midfield anchored by Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, and Leandro Paredes provides elite balance, deeply reinforced by the presence of Giovani Lo Celso, Exequiel Palacios, and young Valentin Barco.

At the back, a stubborn defensive line consisting of Cristian Romero, Nicolas Otamendi, and Lisandro Martinez shields star shot-stopper Emiliano Martinez, with full support from the likes of Nahuel Molina, Gonzalo Montiel, and Nicolas Tagliafico.

History, however, offers a sharp warning. After their triumphs in 1978 and 1986, Argentina famously lost their respective opening matches at the following editions --against Belgium in 1982 and Cameroon in 1990. More recently, they suffered a shock opening defeat to Saudi Arabia in 2022. Scaloni will thus be hyper-aware of this campaign-opener hoodoo and eager to avoid an unwanted repeat against the disciplined North Africans.

The challenge ahead, as ever, remains immense; only Italy (1938) and Brazil (1962) have ever successfully defended a World Cup. Yet with Messi still leading the way, Argentina continue to believe that anything is possible.

Magic and miracles often follow the great No. 10, and the clash against Algeria could be the first step on another awe-inspiring journey.