We’re solely a day away from the , as is placing the ultimate touches of their preparation to open up the event for the second time ever in opposition to .
Final time, in 2010, South Africa have been the hosts and drew with Mexico. This time round, Mexico, which is holding its third World Cup, will look to go away Thursday with a victory.
In Group J, although, and will likely be hoping to repeat what they did in 4 years in the past by being the primary workforce since over 60 years in the past to win back-to-back World Cup trophies.
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Earlier than the quartet of Argentina, , , and begins, listed below are my picks as one of the best three gamers from Group B heading into the World Cup.
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LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 17: of in actio throughout the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Spherical of 16 Second Leg match between Chelsea FC and at Stamford Bridge on March 17, 2026 in London, England. (Photograph by Mike Hewitt/Getty Pictures)
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3. Enzo Fernández (Argentina, Chelsea)
4 years in the past, Fernández was one of many breakthrough stars on the World Cup stage, placing his identify in lights following a superb event in Qatar. He began out as an adjunct for the firstly of the event and ended up being one of many most important the explanation why they defeated within the World Cup Closing. After successful the World Cup, he broke switch data by transferring to Chelsea. And though it hasn’t at all times been the happiest marriage, Fernández continues to be some of the revered artistic midfield gamers on this planet.
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In a similar way to Fernández, Alvarez wasn’t anticipated to be a most important character in Qatar all these years in the past however reworked right into a monster because the event went alongside. He scored a brace in opposition to within the World Cup semifinals and has solely grown as a striker over the present cycle, with groups like attempting their greatest to snag him from rival Atlético. If he has one other massive event throughout North America this summer time, his worth may begin rivaling the true high gamers within the sport.
MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 04: Julian Alvarez of Atletico de Madrid celebrates scoring his workforce’s first aim throughout the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Section MD4 match between Atletico de Madrid and R. Union Saint-Gilloise at Estadio Metropolitano on November 04, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. (Photograph by Denis Doyle/Getty Pictures)
1. Lionel Messi (Argentina, )
Sorry, Jordan, Austria, and Algeria, it’s an all-Argentina podium within the group. And whereas I do know Messi isn’t what he was once and that via a 38-game marketing campaign you may fairly have the 2 kids beneath him on this rating, we’re not speaking a few marathon right here. When Messi places on the Argentina jersey and steps out onto the sphere, he elevates everybody round him, together with Alvarez and Fernández. He’s greater than a easy talisman for Argentina; he’s the solar that each single Argentine participant, young and old, gravitates round.
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