Lionel Messi To Play Sixth FIFA World Cup
Lionel Messi will lead Argentina at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking a historic sixth appearance for the 38-year-old forward as the defending champions prepare to begin their title defence.
Messi Named In Argentina World Cup Squad
Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has named Messi in the final 26-member squad for the 2026 World Cup. The selection confirms Messi’s return to football’s biggest tournament after months of speculation over whether he would continue at international level.
Messi has already featured in the 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022 World Cups. His sixth appearance will place him in a rare group of players to have competed across six editions of the tournament.
Argentina Retains 2022 World Cup Core
Argentina have retained several key players from the squad that won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Emiliano Martinez, Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez are among the experienced names included.
However, Angel Di Maria is not part of the squad after retiring from international football following the 2024 Copa America. Paulo Dybala has also been left out of the final list.
Scaloni Adds Youth To Argentina Squad
Scaloni has balanced experience with younger players as Argentina look to defend their title. Newer names such as Valentin Barco, Nicolas Paz, Giuliano Simeone and Thiago Almada have been included.
Argentina will begin their Group J campaign against Algeria on June 16 before facing Jordan and Austria in their remaining group-stage matches.
