Argentina captain Lionel Messi has written another chapter in football history after being named in his country’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This will mark Messi’s sixth appearance at a FIFA World Cup, further cementing his status as one of the greatest players in football history.
Head coach Lionel Scaloni has announced a 26-man squad that will carry Argentina’s hopes of defending the title they won at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The squad combines experienced champions with a new generation of emerging talent.
Argentina Squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Goalkeepers
- Emiliano Martínez
- Gerónimo Rulli
- Juan Musso
Defenders
- Nahuel Molina
- Gonzalo Montiel
- Cristian Romero
- Nicolás Otamendi
- Lisandro Martínez
- Leonardo Balerdi
- Nicolás Tagliafico
- Valentín Barco
- Facundo Medina
Midfielders
- Rodrigo De Paul
- Enzo Fernández
- Alexis Mac Allister
- Leandro Paredes
- Exequiel Palacios
- Giovani Lo Celso
- Thiago Almada
Forwards
- Lionel Messi
- Julián Álvarez
- Lautaro Martínez
- Nicolás González
- Giuliano Simeone
- Nico Paz
- José Manuel López
Messi is expected to remain the central figure of the Argentina squad, supported by stars such as Lautaro Martínez, Julián Álvarez, Enzo Fernández, and Alexis Mac Allister. Young talents like Nico Paz and Giuliano Simeone have also been given the opportunity to showcase their abilities on football’s biggest stage.
Argentina’s World Cup Group
Argentina have been placed in Group J alongside:
- Algeria
- Austria
- Jordan
The defending champions will begin their campaign against Algeria on June 16, 2026, in a match expected to attract global attention. They will then face Jordan and Austria in their quest to reach the knockout stages.
Many fans believe this could be Messi’s final World Cup appearance, raising expectations for the legendary forward to end his international career with another memorable achievement.
Argentina have largely maintained the core of the squad that won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar while also introducing younger players to help build the next successful generation.
