Lionel Messi will captain Argentina at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after head coach Lionel Scaloni on Thursday named his 26-man squad for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The 38-year old forward headlines the defending champions’ roster as he prepares for a sixth World Cup appearance, extending his remarkable international career.
Messi, who inspired Argentina to the title in Qatar four years ago, already holds the record for the most World Cup appearances by any player with 26 matches. He is also set to join Cristiano Ronaldo as the only male footballers to feature in six editions of the tournament.
Argentina's roster retains 17 of the 26 players who won the title in Qatar.
Scaloni’s squad, however, did not include highly-rated Real Madrid youngster Franco Mastantuono.
Other notable absentees include Emiliano Buendia - currently in excellent form at Aston Villa - and Roma star Paulo Dybala.
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, winner of the Golden Glove award at the 2022 World Cup, retained his place in the squad alongside Premier League-based defenders Lisandro Martinez of Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur’s Cristian Romero.
Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister and Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez were also selected among the British-based contingent.
Atletico Madrid have the biggest representation from a single club outside Argentina, with six players included in the squad – goalkeeper Juan Musso, defender Nahuel Molina, forwards Julian Alvarez, Nicolas Gonzalez, Thiago Almada and Giuliano Simeone.
Inter Miami midfielder Rodrigo de Paul will also accompany club teammate Messi to the finals.
Argentina have been drawn in Group J and will begin their title defence against Algeria in Kansas City on June 17. They will then face Austria on June 22 and Jordan on June 28 in Dallas.
There had been concerns over Messi’s fitness after he was substituted during Inter Miami’s Major League Soccer match on Monday. However, the club later confirmed the veteran forward had only suffered muscle fatigue in his left hamstring and had not sustained an injury.
Messi has made 198 appearances for Argentina and could reach the 200-match milestone during the upcoming friendlies against Honduras in Texas on June 7 and Iceland in Alabama two days later.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Juan Musso (Atletico Madrid), Geronimo Rulli (Marseille), Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa).
Defenders: Leonardo Balerdi (Marseille), Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon), Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate), Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Facundo Medina (Marseille), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid).
Midfielders: Leandro Paredes (River Plate), Rodrigo de Paul (Inter Miami), Valentin Barco (Strasbourg), Giovani lo Celso (Real Betis), Ezequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea).
Forwards: Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Nicolas Gonzalez (Atletico Madrid), Thiago Almada (Atletico Madrid), Giuliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid), Nico Paz (Como), Jose Manuel Lopez (Palmeiras), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan).
Source: AFP, BBC