Argentina opened the 2026 World Cup with a commanding 3-0 win over Algeria, powered by a hat trick from Lionel Messi. As fans celebrated, assistant coach and former national star Pablo Aimar used a FIFA interview to describe the mindset behind the team’s work, while also looking ahead to a tougher second match against Austria on Monday in Dallas.
Aimar said the squad was pleased to start well, something it did not manage in the previous World Cup, but stressed that calm is never complete. On Messi’s display, he said it was “a stamp for the level of an athlete, not just a footballer, who is at the highest level.” He also argued that a World Cup is about more than results, saying the team is trying to build good memories and that if players do not enjoy the experience, they waste “40 days of your life.”
Looking to Austria, Aimar warned that the opponent is “very tough,” with a different style from Algeria, more physical and direct. That change is expected to lead Lionel Scaloni to make adjustments, even though he rarely repeats an identical lineup, having done so only three times in 97 matches in charge of Argentina.
Up front, Lautaro Martinez is expected to keep his place alongside Messi, while Julian Alvarez will likely begin on the bench again as he continues working back to full fitness. In midfield, Thiago Almada may lose his spot despite strong defensive work, with Nicolas Gonzalez or Giuliano Simeone being tried on the left, and another option is adding a holding midfielder such as Exequiel Palacios or Leandro Paredes. In defense, Nahuel Molina is projected to replace Gonzalo Montiel at right back, while Facundo Medina should stay on the left so Argentina does not rush back injured Nicolas Tagliafico.
