La Albiceleste captain Lionel Messi will lead a star-studded Argentina squad at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in what is expected to be his final appearance at the Mundial.
The tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico will mark Messi’s sixth FIFA World Cup appearance, a record he will share with Portugal talisman and long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who was also named in Portugal’s squad for the global showpiece.
Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni officially ended months of uncertainty surrounding Messi’s participation after unveiling his 26-man squad on Thursday night which included the former Barcelona and PSG star.
Notable absentees from the final list include Real Madrid youngster Franco Mastantuono and Chelsea winger Alejandro Garnacho, who both failed to secure places in the defending champions’ squad.
Mixture of Experience and Youth
Scaloni will rely on a blend of experienced campaigners and emerging talents as La Albiceleste seek to defend the World Cup title they won four years ago in Qatar.
The squad heavily features players who were instrumental in Argentina’s triumph at the 2022 edition, where they lifted their third world title after defeating France on penalties in a dramatic final.
Captain Lionel Messi will once again lead the side, while goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico, Nicolas Otamendi, Gonzalo Montiel and Nahuel Molina all return for another World Cup campaign.
Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez, Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister, Messi’s club teammate, Rodrigo De Paul, and Leandro Paredes also retained their places after playing key roles in Qatar.
In attack, Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid) and Lautaro Martinez of Inter Milan are once again expected to spearhead Argentina’s quest for back-to-back world titles.
Among the younger names included in the squad are Racing Strasbourg midfielder Valentino Barco and Como playmaker, Nico Paz, both of whom are set to make their World Cup debut appearances.
Paz enjoyed an impressive season in Italy, helping Como secure UEFA Champions League qualification for the first time in the club’s history.
The Rest of the Squad
The goalkeeping department will be led by Aston Villa shot-stopper Emiliano Martinez, with Juan Musso and Geronimo Rulli providing backup options.
In defence, Tottenham Hotspur captain Cristian Romero made the squad despite suffering an injury late in the season. Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez was also selected alongside Facundo Medina and Nicolas Otamendi.
Giovani Lo Celso and Bayer Leverkusen’s Ezequiel Palacios, in midfield, were also included in the final squad for the tournament which begins on June 11.
Completing the list are Atletico Madrid trio Nicolas Gonzalez, Thiago Almada and Giuliano Simeone, who all earned places after impressive performances at club level.
Scaloni’s selection reflects the balance between continuity and transition as Argentina aim to remain dominant on the world stage while gradually integrating the next generation of stars.
Messi Set to Lead Argentina for the Last Time
Former Barcelona captain, Lionel Messi, is widely expected to play his final major international tournament for Argentina at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 38-year-old remains Argentina’s all-time leading scorer with 116 international goals in 198 appearances. His international tally places him second behind Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, who has scored 143 goals for his country.
Messi also holds the record for the most goals scored by an Argentine player in FIFA World Cup history with 13, surpassing legendary striker Gabriel Batistuta, who scored 10, and the late Diego Armando Maradona.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has amassed more than 910 career goals, a remarkable achievement only bettered by Cristiano Ronaldo.
Having already delivered Copa America and World Cup glory to Argentina, Messi now has one final opportunity to lead his country on football’s grandest stage.
Argentina head into the tournament determined to defend their crown and further cement their status as one of the greatest generations in the nation’s football history, with Messi once again at the heart of their ambitions.
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