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Lionel Messi stands on the verge of making history with the Argentina national football team as they prepare to face Algeria on Wednesday, 17 June 2026 (IST).

According to BolaSport.com, Lionel Messi is poised to set a major milestone with Argentina when they take on Algeria in the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The two sides will meet in their opening Group J fixture of the 2026 World Cup, scheduled to be held at Kansas City Stadium, Kansas, United States, on Wednesday morning (IST).

This match marks Argentina’s debut in the 2026 edition as the reigning world champions.

As title holders, La Albiceleste enter the tournament as clear favourites to win, further strengthened by their status as the number one ranked team in the world.

Beyond their reputation, Argentina also hold the upper hand due to their star-studded squad, which is packed with world-class talent compared to their North African opponents.

In attack, the team boasts the likes of Lionel Messi, Julian Alvarez, and rising wonderkid Nico Paz.

In midfield and defence, key names such as Enzo Fernandez, Cristian Romero, Nicolas Otamendi, and Emiliano Martinez are expected to play crucial roles.

Given Argentina’s depth and quality, it would not be surprising if the Desert Foxes find it difficult to secure points in their opening Group J encounter.

Regardless of the outcome, this fixture could become one of the most memorable matches in Messi’s illustrious career.

As reported by TyC Sports via BolaSport.com, the clash against Algeria could see Messi achieve a historic record with Argentina.

If head coach Lionel Scaloni decides to field him, the player known as “La Pulga” will make his 200th appearance for La Albiceleste.

Over his 21-year international career with Argentina’s senior team, the Inter Miami superstar has already made 199 appearances in all competitions.

Across those 199 matches, Messi has played a total of 16,380 minutes, registering 117 goals and 64 assists for the national side.

His 199th appearance came when he featured as a substitute in a friendly match against Iceland.

Now, Messi is on the brink of his 200th international cap for Argentina, a feat that will further cement his place in football history.

Should he feature against Algeria, Messi will move to within two appearances of Bader Al-Mutawa of Kuwait, who holds the second-most international caps in the world with 202.

Al-Mutawa earned his 202 caps for Kuwait between 4 September 2003 and 14 June 2022.

This means Messi could surpass Al-Mutawa’s tally if he plays in all three of Argentina’s Group J matches in the 2026 World Cup.

However, Messi still trails his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who holds the all-time record for most international appearances.

CR7 achieved that landmark by playing 228 matches for Portugal since 20 August 2003.

While it may be difficult for Messi to catch Ronaldo’s record, reaching 200 caps remains an extraordinary achievement that ensures his place as Argentina’s most capped player in history.

Currently, the closest Argentine player to Messi in terms of caps is defender Nicolas Otamendi, who has made 132 appearances for La Albiceleste.