The most valuable overseas Vietnamese in history will face Messi at the World Cup

Ibrahim Maza, the most valuable overseas Vietnamese player ever, will get the opportunity to challenge the iconic Lionel Messi when Algeria shares a group with Argentina at the 2026 World Cup finals.

During the 2026 World Cup draw held in the early hours of December 6 (Vietnam time), the luck of the draw placed the reigning champions Argentina into Group J alongside Algeria, Austria, and Jordan. This group quickly caught the attention of Vietnamese fans as it features Ibrahim Maza, a player of mixed Vietnamese and Algerian heritage, who has the chance to face Lionel Messi, one of the greatest football legends in history.

This will mark Argentina’s journey to defend their title, having won the championship in Qatar 2022 after a classic final against France. Under coach Lionel Scaloni, the “Albiceleste” maintain a strong core with familiar names like Messi, De Paul, Lautaro Martinez, Enzo Fernandez, and Julian Alvarez. Although Messi will be 39 years old when the 2026 World Cup begins, he remains the irreplaceable spirit and leader of the South American team.

Meanwhile, Ibrahim Maza, born in 2005, has an Algerian father and a Vietnamese mother, currently plays for Bayer Leverkusen, a top Bundesliga club. He previously represented Germany’s youth teams but later chose to play for the Algerian national team, believing he can make a unique impact at the international level.

Maza is currently valued at tens of millions of euros and is considered the “most valuable overseas Vietnamese player in history.” In 2025, he continuously earned individual honors, most notably the Best Young Player of Algeria 2025 award given by the Algerian Football Federation at the Fennec d’Or Gala, surpassing other rising stars like Badredine Bouanani (Stuttgart) and Amin Chiakha (Copenhagen).

The match-up between Argentina and Algeria in Group J promises to be thrilling, not only because of the difference in class but also due to the fascinating story of Ibrahim Maza, the young man with Vietnamese blood who will soon have the opportunity to face the living legend Lionel Messi on the World Cup stage.

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