Team News: Lionel Messi starts for Argentina against Saudi Arabia, Lisandro Martinez benched

Seven-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi will captain Argentina in their opening 2022 World Cup Group C fixture against Saudi Arabia.

The legendary forward, who is competing at his fifth and potentially last World Cup, will form a fearsome attacking front three with Lautaro Martinez and Angel Di Maria, the latter of whom scored a brace in the 5-0 friendly win over United Arab Emirates last week.

Indeed, head coach Lionel Scaloni has made five changes to the side that beat the UAE, with Manchester United centre-back Lisandro Martinez among those to drop to the substitutes' bench.

Cristian Romero and Nicolas Otamendi are preferred at centre-back, shielding goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, while Nahuel Molina and Nicolas Tagliafico are handed starts at full-back at the expense of Juan Foyth and Marcos Acuna respectively.

Alexis Mac Allister drops out for Papu Gomez, who joins Rodrigo De Paul and Leandro Paredes in a three-man midfield.

Julian Alvarez, Enzo Fernandez, Thiago Almada and Angel Correa are among those named on Argentina's substitutes' bench.

As for Saudi Arabia, Salman Al-Faraj will captain his side in centre-midfield, while Saleh Al-Shehri will lead the line up front.

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

Saudi Arabia starting lineup: Al-Owais; Abdulhamid, Al-Tambakti, Al-Bulaihi, Al-Shahrani; Kanno, Al-Malki, Al-Faraj; Al-Buraikan, Al-Shehri, Al-Dawsari.