Lionel Messi and Argentina are heavy favourites to reach the World Cup 2026 last 16 as they face debutants Cape Verde today.
Head coach Lionel Scaloni shuffled his pack for the 3-1 win over Jordan, with top spot in Group J already sealed with comfortable wins over Algeria and Austria, resting his captain and bringing in Julian Alvarez up front.
It was also all change out wide, with Rodrigo De Paul and Thiago Almada replaced by Giovani Lo Celso and Giuliano Simeone.
Enzo Fernandez and Alexis Mac Allister were also given a rest, with Nico Paz and Leandro Paredes coming into the side.
At the back, midfielder Exequiel Palacios was played out of position at right-back, while Nicolas Otamendi and Marcos Senesi started in the heart of defence.
Nicolas Tagliafico got a run-out at left-back in place of Facundo Medina.
However, expect Scaloni to revert to type and go back to his preferred stars for this match, despite World Cup holders Argentina’s status as overwhelming favourites.
That will mean that ever-present Emiliano Martinez continues in goal, with Nahuel Molina likely to return at right-back.
Medina will be restored on the left, with Premier League duo Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez in at centre-back.
There had been concerns over Tottenham captain Romero, who was taken off against Austria after suffering a knee injury and was not considered to face Jordan, but he has been pictured back in training and should return here.
Mac Allister and Fernandez will join forces once more in the engine room, and De Paul and Almada remain Scaloni’s go-to pairing out wide, but he does have Nico Gonzalez and Simeone to call upon should he fancy shaking things up once more.
Up top, it is a no-brainer. Messi, but who partners him? Lautaro Martinez has been preferred to Alvarez this tournament, and is likely to start once more after finding the net against Jordan.
Predicted Argentina XI (4-4-2): Emiliano Martinez; Molina, Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Medina; De Paul, Mac Allister, Fernandez, Almada; Messi, Lautaro Martinez
Time and date: 11pm BST on Friday July 3, 2026
Venue: Miami Stadium
How to watch: ITV
