Lionel Messi of Argentina reacts to followers as they heat up previous to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match between Argentina and Saudi Arabia at Lusail Stadium on November 22, 2022 in Lusail Metropolis, Qatar.
| Photograph Credit score: Getty Pictures
Argentina’s 35-year-old captain and all-time prime scorer Lionel Messi shrugged off some fatigue niggles to guide the road on November 22 within the Group C opener towards Saudi Arabia the place he begins his final quest for an elusive World Cup trophy.
With Paulo Dybala nonetheless not recovered from damage, Lautaro Martinez and Angel Di Maria had been up entrance with Messi in a star-studded group who’re one of many favourites to win in Qatar.
Saudi Arabia coach Herve Renard stored captain and midfielder Salman Al-Faraj within the group regardless of a current shoulder damage. He has been a cornerstone of Al Hilal’s dominance of Asian membership soccer in recent times.
Their group is totally home-based, with the native league’s monetary clout guaranteeing few main gamers aspire to play abroad.
Groups:
Argentina: Emeliano Martinez, Cristian Romero, Nicolas Tagliafico Nicolas Otamendi, Nahuel Molina, Alejandro Gomez, Rodrigo De Paul, Leandro Paredes, Lionel Messi (c), Lautaro Martinez, Angel Di Maria.
Saudi Arabia: Mohamed Al-Owais, Ali Al-Bulaihi, Yasser Al-Shahrani, Mohamed Kanno, Saud Abdulhamid, Abdulelah Al-Malki, Saleh Al-Shehri, Hassan Al-Tambakti, Salman Al-Faraj (c), Salem Al-Dawsari, Firas Al-Buraikan.
