Kansas City, June 16 -- Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni and defender Nicolas Otamendi highlighted the importance of World Cup-winning icon Lionel Messi in their side ahead of their FIFA World Cup campaign opener against Algeria scheduled for Tuesday.

Messi, who climbed the zenith of football by capturing the once-elusive FIFA World Cup title in the previous edition hosted by Qatar back in 2022, is once again the centre of attention and continues being a footballing heartthrob as the veteran aims to go back-to-back in what could be his last World Cup.

Ahead of the match, Scaloni was cited by Reuters as telling reporters that "everyone wants to see him on the pitch".

"Not only Argentines, we believe everyone wants to see him on the pitch,...