FIFA World Cup 2026: Lionel Messi, the ‘Algerian Messi’ and the ‘Jordanian Messi’ meet in Group J; a look at best players
Three of the teams are more used to the heat than Austria, but Ralf Rangnick’s team will still go for the kill in hopes of suffocating them early
Group J presents a compelling quartet for the defending champions, featuring Asian debutants Jordan, African side Algeria who recently defeated the Netherlands, and a gegenpressing European unit in Austria, all facing a familiar powerhouse in Argentina led by an aging but still formidable Lionel Messi. Argentina, while confident in their squad depth, still rely on Messi's unparalleled ability to deliver crucial moments, even if his role is limited. Algeria, despite a promising win against the Dutch, faces questions about consistency, with Riyad Mahrez as their primary threat, though his endurance is a concern, and striker Amine Gouiri may be pivotal. Austria, under Ralf Rangnick, embodies a high-intensity pressing style built on teamwork, but their attacking edge is blunted by the injury to Christoph Baumgartner, leaving Konrad Laimer as a key figure, with the heat posing a potential challenge to their demanding tactics. World Cup debutants Jordan, despite the absence of striker Yazan Al-Naimat, look to Mousa Al-Tamari, their Ligue 1-based star and nicknamed the "Jordanian Messi," for inspiration against Austria, where they hope to leverage climate advantage against a significant skill deficit.
Group J presents a compelling quartet for the defending champions, featuring Asian debutants Jordan, African side Algeria who recently defeated the Netherlands, and a gegenpressing European unit in Austria, all facing a familiar powerhouse in Argentina led by an aging but still formidable Lionel Messi. Argentina, while confident in their squad depth, still rely on Messi's unparalleled ability to deliver crucial moments, even if his role is limited. Algeria, despite a promising win against the Dutch, faces questions about consistency, with Riyad Mahrez as their primary threat, though his endurance is a concern, and striker Amine Gouiri may be pivotal. Austria, under Ralf Rangnick, embodies a high-intensity pressing style built on teamwork, but their attacking edge is blunted by the injury to Christoph Baumgartner, leaving Konrad Laimer as a key figure, with the heat posing a potential challenge to their demanding tactics. World Cup debutants Jordan, despite the absence of striker Yazan Al-Naimat, look to Mousa Al-Tamari, their Ligue 1-based star and nicknamed the "Jordanian Messi," for inspiration against Austria, where they hope to leverage climate advantage against a significant skill deficit.
Group J presents a compelling quartet for the defending champions, featuring Asian debutants Jordan, African side Algeria who recently defeated the Netherlands, and a gegenpressing European unit in Austria, all facing a familiar powerhouse in Argentina led by an aging but still formidable Lionel Messi. Argentina, while confident in their squad depth, still rely on Messi's unparalleled ability to deliver crucial moments, even if his role is limited. Algeria, despite a promising win against the Dutch, faces questions about consistency, with Riyad Mahrez as their primary threat, though his endurance is a concern, and striker Amine Gouiri may be pivotal. Austria, under Ralf Rangnick, embodies a high-intensity pressing style built on teamwork, but their attacking edge is blunted by the injury to Christoph Baumgartner, leaving Konrad Laimer as a key figure, with the heat posing a potential challenge to their demanding tactics. World Cup debutants Jordan, despite the absence of striker Yazan Al-Naimat, look to Mousa Al-Tamari, their Ligue 1-based star and nicknamed the "Jordanian Messi," for inspiration against Austria, where they hope to leverage climate advantage against a significant skill deficit.
The group of the defending champions is not short on storylines. Asian debutants, an African side fresh off beating the Dutch and a gegenpressing European unit make for a delightful mix.
Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
Argentina: Lionel Messi
Who else? Messi turns 39 during the tournament, but time seems to have bent its will to accommodate the all-time great. However, Argentina are now a team to be feared even without their talisman. So, even if Messi plays a limited role, Lionel Scaloni has built a squad confident enough to function without him. But they are better with him and Messi has been acclimatising in America. This is not prime Messi and this may not even be the 2022 Messi. But, when it matters most, he can still produce something that no one else in world football can.
Algeria: Riyad Mahrez
Up against Messi and co. in their opening match on June 16 will be Algeria, led by a man who was once hailed as the Algerian Messi, before he grew to become the one and only Riyad Mahrez. The recent win against the Netherlands (1-0) in Rotterdam was impressive, but the most reliable gauge of their true level was the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, where they played some of the tournament's most compelling football before collapsing entirely against Nigeria in the quarterfinals. Algeria’s best finish at a World Cup was the first knockout round at Brazil 2014. This time, that will be the minimum target. The key is to keep things tight in the opener. Mahrez, 35, remains their most dangerous player, though he cannot always last till full time. So, French-born striker Amine Gouiri may also be key to the team’s hopes.
Austria: Konrad Laimer
Austria know exactly what they are—and more importantly, what they are not. Ralf Rangnick, the progenitor of the gegenpress, has built a side less that is more than the sum of its parts. He has been in post since 2022 and has built the relentless pressing and the kind of trust between players that is expected of a Rangnick side. However, Austria suffered a major blow with their best player Christoph Baumgartner being ruled out by an injury he suffered on June 2. Without him, the team will lack edge in the final third. So now, Bayern Munich’s versatile midfielder, who can also play both right-back and left-back will be Austria’s most irreplaceable footballer. Austria rarely lose their shape, but the heat is a concern given their high-intensity playing style. The target should be second-place.
Jordan: Mousa Al-Tamari
Facing Austria in their first match on June 16 will be World Cup debutants Jordan. The team qualified by finishing second in their AFC third-round group behind South Korea, but they arrive with a significant problem. Striker Yazan Al-Naimat ruptured his ACL in December and is out. The burden falls on “Jordanian Messi” Al-Tamari, who plays for Rennes in Ligue 1. The first Jordanian to play in one of Europe’s top five leagues, the 28-year-old winger has 24 goals in 90 caps. Against Austria, Jordan has the climate advantage, but a massive skill gap. If they are to get a result, they will need a moment of magic from Al-Tamari.