Messi to Represent Argentina at Sixth World Cup as He Leads Holders Again

Lionel Messi will play in a sixth World Cup, Europea’s record eight-goal scorer, and lead Argentina as captain at the 2026 tournament. The 38-year-old was named in manager Lionel Scaloni’s 26-man squad on Thursday after helping Argentina lift the trophy in Qatar with a penalty shootout win over France.

Messi has already made 26 World Cup appearances, the most ever by any player, and will this summer join Cristiano Ronaldo as the only male footballers to reach a sixth World Cup. Ronaldo, 41, is also set to represent Portugal. Messi’s final move is likely to be his last on the big stage, following his record-breaking performances in Brazil, Russia, Qatar and now the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Argentina’s squad includes key figures from the last triumph, notably goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez of Aston Villa, who was named Player of the Tournament in 2022, as well as Lisancio Martinez and Cristian Romero in defence. Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister and Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez are also in the midfield, rounding out a blend of experienced leaders and younger talent.

The group stage draw places Argentina in Group J, where they begin their campaign in Kansas City against Algeria on Wednesday, 17 June, before facing Austria and Jordan in Dallas. Messi recently suffered muscle fatigue in his left hamstring during an Inter Miami match, but the club confirmed he was not injured and should be available for the World Cup.

Messi has made 198 appearances for Argentina and could reach 200 caps if he plays in both of the team’s upcoming friendly matches against Honduras and Iceland in early June. If he takes the field in the tournament, he will be chasing a sixth World Cup final appearance and a chance to add to his legacy as one of football’s greatest performers on the biggest stage.

Argentina’s 2026 World Cup 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)