Lionel Messi and his Argentine teammates will commence their group C campaign at the ongoing World Cup against Saudi Arabia.
At 35, this is most likely the last World Cup for Messi, who has won the Ballon d’Or seven times.
The last time Argentina won the World Cup was in 1986 and the closest they have come to winning the World Cup during this Messi’s era was in 2014 when they lost to Germany in the final.
Argentina are expected to qualify for the next round from this group comfortably as they also have Poland and Mexico in their group.
In the Group’s second match Mexico will lurk horns with Poland. The only previous World Cup meeting between both sides was in 1978, Poland defeated Mexico 3-1.
Since then both sides have met outside the World Cup six times with the El Tri of Mexico winning thrice and drawing as much. They have never lost an opening match since the 1994 World Cup. In the last World Cup, they defeated the defending champions, Germany by a lone goal in their opening match.
In contrast Poland has won only one World Cup opening match against Argentina 3-2 in 1974.
Poland captain, Robert Lewandowski is expected to return to the starting 11 after he was rested in last Wednesday’s friendly win over Chile.
