Argentina vs. Mexico: How do both squads compare ahead of World Cup clash?

Lionel Scaloni's men fell to a shock 2-1 defeat against Saudi Arabia last time out and must now avoid defeat in this one to stand any chance of making it through to the knockout stage.

Mexico, meanwhile, were a tad lucky in their opener against Poland, which ended in a goalless stalemate, so the North Americans remain firmly in charge of their own fate.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how the squads of Argentina and Mexico compare against each other ahead of the contest.

ARGENTINA

Most valuable player:

Lautaro Martinez (£65m)

Overall squad value:

£558.9m

Most capped player:

Lionel Messi (166)

Leading goalscorer:

Lionel Messi (92)

Total caps:

902

Total goals:

166

Oldest player:

Franco Armani (36)

Youngest player:

Enzo Fernandez (21)

Average age:

27.8

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Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Geronimo Rulli (Villarreal), Franco Armani (River Plate)

Defenders: Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid), Gonzalo Montiel (Sevilla), Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur), German Pezzella (Real Betis), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United), Marcos Acuna (Sporting Lisbon), Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon), Juan Foyth (Villarreal)

Midfielders: Rodrigo De Paul, (Atletico Madrid), Leandro Paredes (Juventus), Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton & Hove Albion), Guido Rodriguez (Real Betis), Papu Gomez (Sevilla), Enzo Fernandez (Benfica), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen)

Forwards: Angel Di Maria (Juventus), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan), Julian Alvarez (Manchester City), Nicolas Gonzalez (Fiorentina), Joaquin Correa (Inter Milan), Paulo Dybala (AS Roma), Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain)

MEXICO

Most valuable player:

Edson Alvarez (£30.1m)

Overall squad value:

£151.5m

Most capped player:

Andres Guardado (178)

Leading goalscorer:

Raul Jimenez (29)

Total caps:

1331

Total goals:

137

Oldest player:

Alfredo Talavera (40)

Youngest player:

Kevin Alvarez (23)

Average age:

28.5

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Goalkeepers: Guillermo Ochoa (Club America), Rodolfo Cota (Leon), Alfredo Talavera (Juarez)

Defenders: Nestor Araujo (Club America), Jesus Gallardo (Monterrey), Gerardo Artega (Genk), Hector Moreno (Monterrey), Jorge Sanchez (Ajax), Johan Vazquez (Cremonese), Cesar Montes (Monterrey), Kevin Alvarez (Pachuca)

Midfielders: Erick Gutierrez (PSV), Orbelin Pineda (AEK Athens), Hector Herrera (Houston Dynamo), Carlos Rodriguez (Cruz Azul), Andres Guardado (Real Betis), Roberto Alvarado (Chivas), Edson Alvarez (Ajax), Luis Chavez (Pachuca), Uriel Antuna (Cruz Azul), Luis Romo (Monterrey)

Forwards: Hirving Lozano (Napoli), Rogelio Funes Mori (Monterrey), Henry Martin (Club America), Raul Jimenez (Wolves), Alexis Vega (Chivas)

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