Argentina vs Mexico World Cup lineup, starting 11 for Group C match at Qatar 2022

If Argentina are to live up to the pre-tournament hype touting them as potential World Cup winners, then they must surely beat Mexico.

Lionel Scaloni's side found themselves on the wrong end of the one of the tournament's great upsets in their opener, losing 2-1 to Saudi Arabia.

And only three points in their second outing will do if they are to silence early doubts regarding their hopes of lifting the trophy.

Below are the predicted lineups for both teams ahead of the clash at Lusail Stadium.

MORE: Argentina vs Mexico tips, best bets and predictions from TSN's experts

Argentina vs Mexico lineups

As they look to get their World Cup campaign back on track, Argentina have received a significant fitness boost over their talisman.

Despite early concerns over a leg injury, Messi is fully fit and will be available to start against Mexico.

But good news on the physical front must be backed by an immediate mental recovery, of which coach Scaloni said: "When you are knocked out you have to get up, and my players are more than capable of doing so.

"We will not change the way we play because of the loss to Saudi Arabia. I can make a change or two in the selection but not in our system, that is not in question.

"This group will leave everything they've got on the pitch to recover from that heavy blow."

MORE: How to watch Argentina vs Mexico in your territory

Argentina predicted starting 11

(4-3-3, right to left): 23. E. Martinez (GK) — 4. Montiel, 25. L. Martinez, 19. Otamendi, 3. Tagliafico — 7. De Paul, 5. Paredes, 24. Fernandez — 10. Messi, 22. L. Martinez, 11. Di Maria

• Injured: none
• Suspended: none

Cristian Romero's recent fitness struggles mean he is likely to drop out, with Manchester United's Lisandro Martinez the likeliest candidate to replace him.

Enzo Fernandez could also make his first start of the tournament, with Papu Gomez dropping out.

Mexico predicted starting 11

(4-3-3, right to left): 13. Ochoa (GK) — 19. Sanchez, 15. Moreno, 3. Montes, 23. Gallardo — 18. Guardado, 16. Herrera, 24. Chavez — 22. Lozano, 9. Jimenez, 10. Vega

• Injured: none
• Suspended: none

Gerardo Martino's  big call comes over whether to bring fit-again striker Raul Jimenez back in for Henry Martin.

Adding big-game experience of Andres Guardado in central midfield could also prove tempting to the Mexico coach.

Argentina vs Mexico World Cup squads

Here are the 26 names on each team's squad lists at the World Cup in Qatar:

Argentina

Position	No.	Player	Club	Age	Caps
GK	1	Franco Armani	River Plate (ARG)	36	18
GK	23	Emiliano Martinez	Aston Villa (ENG)	30	19
GK	12	Geronimo Rulli	Villarreal (SPA)	30	4
DEF	8	Marcos Acuna	Sevilla (SPA)	30	43
DEF	2	Juan Foyth	Villarreal (SPA)	24	16
DEF	25	Lisandro Martinez	Man United (ENG)	24	10
DEF	26	Nahuel Molina	Atletico Madrid (SPA)	24	19
DEF	4	Gonzalo Montiel	Sevilla (SPA)	25	19
DEF	19	Nicolas Otamendi	Benfica (POR)	34	93
DEF	6	German Pezzella	Real Betis (SPA)	31	32
DEF	13	Cristian Romero	Tottenham (ENG)	24	12
DEF	3	Nicolas Tagliafico	Lyon (FRA)	30	42
MID	7	Rodrigo De Paul	Atletico Madrid (SPA)	28	44
MID	24	Enzo Fernandez	Benfica (POR)	21	3
MID	17	Alejandro 'Papu' Gomez	Sevilla (SPA)	34	15
MID	20	Alexis Mac Allister	Brighton (ENG)	23	8
MID	14	Exequiel Palacios	Bayer Leverkusen (GER)	24	20
MID	5	Leandro Paredes	Juventus (ITA)	28	46
MID	18	Guido Rodriguez	Real Betis (SPA)	28	26
FWD	9	Julian Alvarez	Man City (ENG)	22	12
FWD	16	Thiago Almada**	Atlanta United (USA)	21	1
FWD	11	Angel Di Maria	Juventus (ITA)	34	124
FWD	21	Paulo Dybala	AS Roma (ITA)	28	34
FWD	15	Angel Correa*	Atletico Madrid	25	22
FWD	22	Lautaro Martinez	Inter Milan (ITA)	25	40
FWD	10	Lionel Messi	PSG (FRA)	35	165

*Replaced the injured Nicolas Gonzalez 

**Replaced the injured Joaquin Correa

Mexico

Position	No.	Player	Club	Age	Caps
GK	12	Rodolfo Cota	Club Leon (MEX)	35	8
GK	13	Guillermo Ochoa	Club America (MEX)	37	132
GK	1	Alfredo Talavera	FC Juarez (MEX)	40	40
DEF	26	Kevin Alvarez	Pachuca (MEX)	23	8
DEF	2	Nestor Araujo	Club America (MEX)	31	63
DEF	6	Gerardo Arteaga	Genk (BEL)	24	17
DEF	23	Jesus Gallardo	Monterrey (MEX)	28	79
DEF	3	Cesar Montes	Monterrey (MEX)	25	31
DEF	15	Hector Moreno	Monterrey (MEX)	34	128
DEF	19	Jorge Sanchez	Ajax (NED)	24	26
DEF	4	Johan Vasquez	Cremonese (ITA)	23	7
DEF	4	Edson Alvarez	Ajax (NED)	24	59
MID	24	Luis Chavez	Pachuca (MEX)	26	9
MID	18	Andres Guardado	Real Betis (SPA)	36	180
MID	14	Erick Gutierrez	PSV (NED)	27	34
MID	16	Hector Herrera	Houston Dynamo (USA)	37	102
MID	8	Carlos Rodriguez	Cruz Azul (MEX)	25	37
MID	7	Luis Romo	Monterrey (MEX)	27	27
FWD	17	Orbelin Pineda	AEK Athens (GRE)	26	50
FWD	25	Roberto Alvarado	Chivas (MEX)	24	32
FWD	21	Uriel Antuna	Cruz Azul (MEX)	25	37
FWD	11	Rogelio Funes Mori	Monterrey (MEX)	31	16
FWD	9	Raul Jimenez	Wolves (ENG)	31	97
FWD	22	Hirving Lozano	Napoli (ITA)	27	60
FWD	20	Henry Martin	Club America (MEX)	29	27
FWD	10	Alexis Vega	Chivas (MEX)	24	23