Argentina captain Lionel Messi will feature at a sixth FIFA World Cup after being included in the country’s 26-man squad for the 2026 tournament.
The Inter Miami forward, who turns 39 during the competition, was named in Lionel Scaloni’s final squad on Thursday as the reigning champions prepare to defend the title they won in Qatar in 2022.
Messi, widely regarded as one of football’s greatest players, currently holds the record for the most World Cup appearances by any player with 26 matches played. His participation in this year’s tournament will see him join Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo as the only male footballers to appear in six editions of the World Cup.
Key Highlights:
- Lionel Messi has been included in Argentina’s 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, making him set to feature in a record-equalling sixth World Cup tournament alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.
- Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni retained 17 players from the 2022 World Cup-winning squad, including Emiliano Martinez, Cristian Romero, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez.
- Argentina, the reigning champions after defeating France in the 2022 final, will begin their 2026 campaign in Group J against Algeria before facing Austria and Jordan.
- Concerns over Messi’s fitness after his substitution for Inter Miami CF were eased after the club confirmed he was only experiencing left hamstring muscle fatigue and had not suffered an injury.
- Notable omissions from the squad include Paulo Dybala, Emi Buendia and Franco Mastantuono, while Gianluca Prestianni missed out due to a FIFA suspension.
Argentina lifted their third World Cup trophy four years ago after defeating France on penalties in the final in Qatar, with Messi playing a central role throughout the tournament.
Several members of that title-winning squad have retained their places, including Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez, Tottenham Hotspur centre-back Cristian Romero, Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister and Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez.
Romero was included despite missing the closing stages of the Premier League season because of a knee injury.
Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez and Inter Milan forward Lautaro Martinez are also among the 17 players from the 2022 triumph returning for another World Cup campaign.
Argentina have been drawn in Group J and will begin their campaign against Algeria in Kansas City on June 17 before facing Austria and Jordan in Dallas.
Messi recently sparked fitness concerns after being substituted during Inter Miami’s Major League Soccer clash on Monday. However, the club later confirmed that the veteran attacker was only suffering from muscle fatigue in his left hamstring and had not sustained any injury.
The Argentine legend has earned 198 international caps and could reach the 200-match milestone during upcoming friendlies against Honduras and Iceland before the tournament begins.
mong the notable omissions from the squad are Aston Villa attacker Emi Buendia, Roma forward Paulo Dybala and highly rated Real Madrid youngster Franco Mastantuono.
Read also:
- Ronaldo targets historic double as Al Nassr go 8 points clear in Saudi Pro League title race
- Under-strength Super Eagles defeat Zimbabwe 2-0 to reach Unity Cup Final
- Falconets beat Malawi 2-0 in Ikenne, close in on World Cup qualification
Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni was also left out after FIFA handed him a suspension for the opening two games of the competition over an incident involving Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior.
Argentina’s 2026 World Cup Squad includes: Goalkeepers Juan Musso, Geronimo Rulli and Emiliano Martinez.
Defenders: Leonardo Balerdi, Nicolas Tagliafico, Gonzalo Montiel, Lisandro Martinez, Cristian Romero, Nicolas Otamendi, Facundo Medina, Nahuel Molina.
Midfielders: Leandro Paredes, Rodrigo de Paul, Valentin Barco, Giovani Lo Celso, Ezequiel Palacios, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez.
Forwards: Julian Alvarez, Lionel Messi, Nicolas Gonzalez, Thiago Almada, Giuliano Simeone, Nico Paz, Jose Manuel Lopez, Lautaro Martinez.
