Lionel Messi will lead Argentina in the record sixth World Cup as the talisman was named by Lionel Scaloni in the national team squad. There were uncertainties on Messi’s World Cup inclusion but all of them have been put to bed by Scaloni.
Messi and his rival Cristiano Ronaldo are set to become the first men to play in six tournaments. There were doubts on Messi’s participation after he exited the field during Inter Miami’s MLS game against the Philadelphia Union with an injury.
However, Inter Miami later revealed that Messi suffered from muscle fatigue in his left hamstring after initial diagnosis indicated an overload.
“The initial updates aren’t entirely bad. Now, we must wait to see how he evolves, pending the results of further tests to see if they confirm the initial medical reports,” Scaloni said in an interview with DSports earlier this week. “We all wished Messi could have joined the squad fully fit, but that isn’t the reality.
“It’s not just him; many players have yet to fully recover from injuries. Our main priority now is their rehabilitation to ensure they reach the World Cup in peak condition.”
Argentina will begin their World Cup defense against Algeria on June 16. Austria and Jordan are the other teams in Group J. La Alibceleste will also participate in friendlies against Honduras and Iceland in preparation for the World Cup.
Messi’s Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul, Chelsea’s Enzo Fernández and Atlético Madrid’s Julián Álvarez have been picked in the squad.
Argentina 2026 World Cup squad:
Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa), Gerónimo Rulli (Marseille), Juan Musso (Atlético Madrid).
Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate), Nahuel Molina (Atlético Madrid), Lisandro Martínez (Manchester United), Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica), Leonardo Balerdi (Marseille), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), Nicolás Tagliafico (Lyon), Facundo Medina (Marseille).
Midfielders: Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis), Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors), Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Enzo Fernández (Chelsea), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Valentín Barco (Strasbourg).
Forwards: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Nicolás González (Atlético Madrid), Giuliano Simeone (Atlético Madrid), Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan), José Manuel López (Palmeiras), Julián Álvarez (Atlético Madrid), Thiago Almada (Lyon), Nico Paz (Como).
