Lionel Messi set for historic sixth World Cup with Argentina at 2026 FIFA tournament (LIST)
Lionel Messi will represent Argentina at his sixth FIFA World Cup after being named captain of the defending champions’ squad for the 2026 tournament.
The 38-year-old forward, who guided Argentina to their third World Cup title in Qatar following a penalty shootout victory over France in 2022, was included in Lionel Scaloni’s 26-man squad announced on Thursday.
With 26 World Cup appearances, Messi currently holds the record for the most matches played at the tournament by any player. He is set to join Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, as the only male players to feature in six editions of football’s biggest tournament.
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, who won the Golden Glove award at the 2022 World Cup, was also selected. Defenders Lisandro Martínez of Manchester United and Cristian Romero of Tottenham Hotspur were included in the squad as well.
Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister and Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez are also among the five British-based players in the squad for the finals, which will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Argentina are in Group J and begin their campaign in Kansas City against Algeria (Wednesday, 17 June, 02:00 BST), before they play two games in Dallas, against Austria (Monday, 22 June, 18:00 BST) and Jordan (Sunday, 28 June, 02:00 BST).
Messi had been substituted during Inter Miami's latest Major League Soccer match on Monday, but his club said he had not sustained an injury and was suffering from "muscle fatigue" in his left hamstring.
He has made 198 appearances for Argentina and will reach the 200-mark if he plays in both of his country's friendly matches - against Honduras in Texas (Sunday, 7 June, 01:00 BST) and then against Iceland in Alabama (Tuesday, 9 June).
Argentina 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).
