Lionel Messi is set to lead the defending champion Argentina in his record sixth World Cup this summer in North America.
The 38-year-old was named to coach Lionel Scaloni’s 26-player roster on Thursday. Alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, he will become one of the first men to participate in six World Cup tournaments.
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His participation was in doubt last week when he left the field during an MLS match with Inter Miami against the Philadelphia Union due to injury.
Inter Miami later reported that Messi is suffering from muscle fatigue in his left hamstring, attributed to overuse. His return to play will depend on daily assessments of his recovery.
Scaloni mentioned in a recent interview with DSports, “The initial updates are not entirely negative. We need to monitor his progress and await further tests to verify initial medical assessments. We all wished Messi could join the squad in top condition, but that isn’t the reality.
“It’s not just him; many players are still recovering from injuries. Our top priority is to ensure their rehabilitation so they can arrive at the World Cup ready to perform at their best.”
Argentina will play against Algeria, Austria, and Jordan in the group stage, beginning on June 16 in Kansas City. The team will also engage in friendlies against Honduras and Iceland to prepare for the tournament.
Here they are. These are the guys. pic.twitter.com/xU2lcpJnpW
— Selección Argentina in English (@AFASeleccionEN) May 28, 2026
Messi is among 17 players from the last World Cup who have been included in Scaloni’s roster for the tournament in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, where Argentina aims to become the first team to win back-to-back titles since Brazil in 1962.
Notable returning players include Messi’s Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul, Chelsea’s Enzo Fernández, and Atlético Madrid’s Julián Álvarez.
Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, who fractured the ring finger of his right hand in last week’s Europa League final, where Aston Villa triumphed over Freiburg, is also in the squad.
Scaloni has also included defender Cristian Romero, who is recovering from a sprained collateral ligament in his right knee sustained while playing for Tottenham in mid-April, and fullbacks Nahuel Molina and Gonzalo Montiel, who both are recovering from muscle injuries and scored decisive penalties in the shootout against France in the last World Cup.
Notably, Scaloni did not include Real Madrid teenager Franco Mastantuono, Bournemouth’s Marcos Senesi, and Aston Villa’s Emiliano Buendía.
Argentina 2026 World Cup squad:
Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa), Gerónimo Rulli (Marseille), Juan Musso (Atlético Madrid).
Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate), Nahuel Molina (Atlético Madrid), Lisandro Martínez (Manchester United), Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica), Leonardo Balerdi (Marseille), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), Nicolás Tagliafico (Lyon), Facundo Medina (Marseille).
Midfielders: Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis), Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors), Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Enzo Fernández (Chelsea), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Valentín Barco (Strasbourg).
Forwards: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Nicolás González (Atlético Madrid), Giuliano Simeone (Atlético Madrid), Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan), José Manuel López (Palmeiras), Julián Álvarez (Atlético Madrid), Thiago Almada (Lyon), Nico Paz (Como).
Reported by The Associated Press.