Lionel Messi Has 13 World Cup Goals and Algeria's Shocking 1-0 Win Over the Netherlands Is a Major Problem

Alright, 12s, listen up! The biggest tournament in the world is kicking off, and it's going to be absolutely wild. Our defending champions, Argentina, are starting their 2026 FIFA World Cup journey against Algeria this Tuesday in Kansas City, and let me tell you, this isn't just another game. We're talking about Lionel Messi, the legend himself, playing in what's absolutely his final World Cup. He's chasing history, but Algeria, ranked 28th in the world by FIFA, just threw down some serious heat in their warm-up slate that should have every Albiceleste fan a little nervous.

Messi's Last Dance and a Shot at Immortality

You know the stakes. Messi, at 38 years old, is not just leading his country, he's gunning for a back-to-back World Cup title, something no nation has pulled off in over 60 years. Brazil did it last way back in 1962, so this is a monumental task. On top of that, our guy Messi is only five goals away from the all-time World Cup scoring record held by Miroslav Klose, sitting at 13 career goals right now. Can he get it done? Every single match is going to be a must-watch, especially with Kylian Mbappe, 11 years younger, right there at 14 goals himself. Argentina's roster looks super similar to the one that hoisted the trophy four years ago in Qatar. There are a couple of key absences, though. Marcos Acuna is out with a muscle injury from playing for his club, River Plate, and Leonardo Balerdi had to pu

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ll out after a calf problem in training. Some notable names who didn't make the cut include Franco Mastantuono, after a tough season at Real Madrid, and Alejandro Garnacho, who was with the team in 2022 but missed out this time after Chelsea's struggles.

Algeria: The Unlikely Giant Slayers

Now, let's talk about Algeria, because they are NOT messing around. This team, ranked 28th globally, had some absolute stunners in their warm-up games. They blindsided the Netherlands with a 1-0 victory, which is huge, and then went on to blank Bolivia with a dominant 4-0 score. That's the kind of form that makes you sit up and take notice, especially for an opening match against the defending champs. They've had their own roster shake-ups too. Defender Ayoub Ghezala is out with a shoulder injury that required surgery, and AC Milan midfielder Ismael Bennacer wasn't selected after battling muscle injuries while on loan at Dinamo Zagreb. Head coach Vladimir Petkovic also made some really bold calls, leaving veteran players like 37-year-old Islam Slimani, 34-year-old Baghdad Bounedjah, and 36-year-old Yacine Brahimi off the roster. These guys all sport 70 or more international caps, so that's a lot of experience on the sidelines! So, as we gear up for Tuesday's showdown in Kansas City, the stakes couldn't be higher. Messi's final shot at history, Argentina's quest for an impossible repeat, and an Algeria squad coming in hot off some shocking wins. This is going to be pure fire, folks. Get ready to watch the greatest of all time face a true test!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.