Lionel Scaloni, manager of the Argentina national team, has announced the 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Among the names on the list, the unrivalled presence of Lionel Messi stands out; at almost 39 years of age, he will attempt to lead the Argentine side as they defend their title.

Winner of eight Ballon d’Or awards, the captain of the Argentina national team needs no introduction, but his achievements demand to be recounted time and time again.

When he steps onto the pitch in North America, Messi will make history: he will be playing in his sixth World Cup, a figure he now shares exclusively with Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) and Guillermo Ochoa (Mexico).

But when it comes to appearances on the pitch, Messi is already the undisputed king. With 26 matches played, he holds the all-time World Cup record, surpassing legends such as Lothar Matthäus (25) and Miroslav Klose (24).

Furthermore, the Rosario-born player’s statistics with the Argentina national team are staggering. Ahead of the World Cup, he has racked up 198 appearances and 116 goals, placing him at the very top of the ‘Albiceleste’s’ all-time goalscoring charts.

One by one: The 5 World Cups Messi has played in

Messi’s World Cup story is an epic tale of genius, heartbreak and, ultimately, absolute redemption.

He made his debut in 2006, aged just 18, bursting onto the scene with a goal and an assist against Serbia and Montenegro, becoming the youngest Argentine ever to achieve this feat.

However, he watched from the bench as his team were knocked out by Germany in the quarter-finals on penalties.

In 2010, under the management of Diego Maradona, the dream was shattered once again in the quarter-finals, also against Germany, in a memorable 4-0 defeat in South Africa.

In 2014, Messi touched the sky with his hands and the trophy with his eyes: he guided Argentina to the final at the Maracanã, won the trophy for the tournament’s best player, but Mario Götze’s goal in extra time left a wound that seemed indelible. Once again against the Germans.

In 2018, amidst the chaos of that team managed by Jorge Sampaoli, the dream was snuffed out in the round of 16 against the very same France that would go on to become champions.

And then came 2022. In Qatar, Messi wrote the most glorious chapter of his career. He became the first player to score in the group stage, the round of 16, the quarter-finals, the semi-finals and the final of a single tournament.

Following in Pelé’s footsteps: The dream of a second title

With seven goals and inspiring leadership, he lifted the long-awaited trophy after what many consider the greatest final of all time against France. The image of the captain kissing the trophy, finally at peace with history, went around the world.

Throughout his career, Messi has already settled all his debts: he has won a World Cup, two Copa América titles and a Finalissima. There is no longer any weight on his shoulders.

However, he will arrive at the 2026 tournament to put the icing on the cake of his career and attempt to achieve a collective milestone not seen since Pelé’s Brazil in 1958 and 1962: back-to-back World Cup titles

And for this mission, the captain has the same ‘Praetorian Guard’ that shielded him in Qatar. Scaloni has assembled a mature and formidable team, featuring stars such as Emiliano Martínez, Cristian Romero, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernández, Rodrigo De Paul, Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez, among others.

The defending champions’ debut will mark the start of a special tournament. Only time will tell how far this Argentina squad will go, but one thing is undeniable: the whole world will stop to watch, perhaps for the last time, Messi in the Albiceleste shirt at a World Cup.

Argentina squad for the World Cup:

Goalkeepers

  • Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa)

  • Gerónimo Rulli (Olympique de Marseille)

  • Juan Musso (Atlético Madrid)

Defenders

  • Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur)

  • Lisandro Martínez (Manchester United)

  • Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica)

  • Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique de Marseille)

  • Nahuel Molina (Atlético Madrid)

  • Nicolás Tagliafico (Olympique Lyonnais)

  • Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate)

  • Valentín Barco (Strasbourg)

  • Facundo Medina (Olympique de Marseille)

Midfielders

  • Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami)

  • Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool)

  • Enzo Fernández (Chelsea)

  • Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen)

  • Giovani Lo Celso (Betis)

  • Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors)

  • Thiago Almada (Atlético Madrid)

  • Nico Paz (Como)

Forwards

  • Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)

  • Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan)

  • Julián Álvarez (Manchester City)

  • Nicolás González (Atlético Madrid)

  • Giuliano Simeone (Atlético Madrid)

  • José López (Palmeiras)