Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has confirmed that Lionel Messi will captain the defending champions at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, unveiling his 26-man squad on Thursday.
The announcement ends speculation over Messi’s participation in what will be his record-breaking sixth World Cup. The 38-year-old had not previously confirmed his involvement, and doubts grew after he sustained a hamstring injury while playing for Inter Miami last weekend.
Medical tests diagnosed muscle fatigue in his left hamstring, prompting his substitution in the 73rd minute of Miami’s 6-4 victory over Philadelphia. While the MLS club offered no clear timetable for recovery, Scaloni has played down the severity of the issue, noting that further tests are planned.
Messi, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, will once again lead Argentina, four years after lifting the trophy in Qatar. He joins Cristiano Ronaldo and Guillermo Ochoa as players expected to feature in their sixth World Cup this summer.
Scaloni’s squad retains 17 of the players who triumphed in Qatar, including centre-back Cristian Romero, who is recovering from a knee injury. Young talents Nicolas Paz, Valentin Barco, and Palmeiras forward Jose Manuel Lopez have also been called up.
Notable omissions include Real Madrid’s 18-year-old prodigy Franco Mastantuono, Aston Villa’s Emiliano Buendia, and Roma forward Paulo Dybala.
Argentina will begin their campaign against Algeria on June 16 in Kansas City, following warm-up friendlies against Honduras and Iceland. Their group also features Austria and Jordan.
