Argentina were handed a slight concern over Lionel Messi ahead of their World Cup 2022 Group C opener with Saudi Arabia at the Lusail Iconic Stadium on Tuesday.

The Paris Saint-Germain attacker is reported to have trained alone on Saturday, although he is not thought to be suffering from any specific injury and was back with the team on Sunday.

Lisandro Martinez (discomfort) and Guido Rodriguez (illness) have emerged as fresh doubts, though, while Joaquin Correa has withdrawn injured and has been replaced by Thiago Almada.

An expected start for Messi would see the 35-year-old line up alongside Lautaro Martinez and Angel Di Maria in a fearsome attack, with Papu Gomez potentially playing just behind the trio.

Rodrigo De Paul and Leandro Paredes are seemingly nailed on to start in the midfield alongside Gomez, as Benfica sensation Enzo Fernandez makes do with a spot on the bench.

Cristian Romero and Nicolas Otamendi are in line to form the centre-back partnership, while Nahuel Molina and Nicolas Tagliafico should start as Lionel Scaloni's two first-choice full-backs,

Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez will enter the World Cup as Argentina's number one, having spent the previous two editions as a bench-warmer at Arsenal.

Argentina possible starting lineup: E. Martinez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Tagliafico; De Paul, Paredes, Gomez; Messi, L. Martinez, Di Maria

> Click here to see how Saudi Arabia could line up for this match

Written by
Ben Knapton