4 Candidates for Key Argentine National Team Players in the 2022 World Cup

The Argentine national team will celebrate the 2022 World Cup , with Lionel Messi remaining the mainstay of the Albiceleste. In this competition, they are in Group C with Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Poland.

Argentina is one of the favorite teams in the 2022 World Cup later. Moreover, La Albiceleste is being shrouded in a positive trend ahead of the grand tournament. Coach Lionel Scaloni’s squad comes to the 2022 World Cup with the status of 2021 Copa America champions.

Then in the 2022 World Cup Qualification Zone Conmebol, Argentina has played 17 matches with 11 wins and six draws without losing.

Then, the positive trend of the Argentine national team continued with a victory over the European Cup 2020 champions, Italy, in the Finalissima match which was held at Wembley Stadium, London, in early June. The series of good results added to the confidence of the Argentine national team squad.

The country, which is now ranked third in the FIFA rankings, has a series of key players who will be a mainstay in the World Cup later. Curious about the names of these players?

Lisandro Martinez

Lisandro Martinez himself is known as a versatile defender who is able to play in a number of positions, including positions that are not his natural position. Apart from being good at centre-back, Lisandro is also adept at playing in the defensive midfield and wing-back positions (left-right).

The new signing of Manchester United, according to Transfermarkt, is mostly played in his natural position, namely central defender. Noted, he has appeared as many as 139 times playing as a central defender with Ajax. In addition, he has also played in the position of defensive midfielder 22 times, left back (12 times), and right back (3 times).

With the flexibility of the position that can be played by Lisandro, Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni will make this player who has collected seven caps a mainstay in mobilizing La Albiceleste’s defense in the World Cup later.

Angel Di Maria

Angel Fabian Di Maria or familiarly called Angel Di Maria is one of the greatest wingers ever owned by the Argentine national team. The 34-year-old is still at the top level of the game and has played for Italian giants this season, Juventus.

Di Maria started his career as a football player when he joined Rosario Central in 2005. Then he moved to Benfica in 2007. Di Maria played at Real Madrid from 2010 to 2014. During that time he made 124 appearances and scored 22 goals. . In August 2014, Di Maria signed his contract with Manchester United. A year with the Red Devils then he moved to Paris Saint-Germain.

With the Argentine national team, the player who has collected 122 caps and 25 goals has strengthened La Albiceleste since 2008. Previously he was in the Argentina U-20 and U-23 national teams and won brilliant achievements by bringing the U-20 World Cup trophy to the Olympic gold medal at the Beijing Olympics. Then successfully presented the 2021/22 Copa America title for the senior national team.

Lionel Messi

Will not be able to rule out the name of the player who won seven Ballon d’Or titles in the Argentine national team. Even though he is 35 years old, La Pulga will be Lionel Scaloni’s mainstay to lead the La Abliceleste squad at the World Cup later.

Lionel Messi started his football career when he was five years old. At that time he was playing for Grandoli, the local football club that was coached by his father. After that he played for the Barcelona youth team from 2000 to 2003. Then Frank Rijkaard at that time gave Lionel Messi the opportunity to move up and make his La Liga debut in Barcelona’s match against Espanyol. Now he strengthens the French club, Paris Saint Germain (PSG) and only collected the French League title last season.

Messi has achieved everything in the world of football at least at the club and individual level. However, he became marginalized when he joined the Argentine national team. Because, unlike Diego Maradona, Messi has not awarded his country a World Cup title.

Lautaro Martinez

Born in Bahia Blanca on August 22, 1997, Lautaro Martinez started his professional career with Racing Club de Avellaneda. He was in the Racing Club uniform from 2015 to 2018. During his time with Racing Club, Lautaro managed to score 27 goals from 60 appearances in all competitions. This made Inter Milan fall in love with him.

The player nicknamed ‘El Toro’ while defending Inter Milan has made 179 appearances and packed 74 goals and 24 assists. With these records, Lionel Scaloni seems to make Lautaro his main striker in the World Cup later.

With the Argentine national team, Lautaro has packed 38 caps and scored 20 goals in various competitions. He also managed to present the Copa America title last season to La Albiceleste.