Lionel Messi is set to play in his sixth FIFA World Cup after being named in Argentina’s 26-man squad for the 2026 tournament by head coach Lionel Scaloni.
The 38-year-old captain led Argentina to World Cup victory in Qatar in 2022, where they defeated France on penalties to win the country’s third title.
Messi already holds the record for the most World Cup appearances by any player, with 26 matches across five tournaments. He is now set to become only the second male footballer, alongside Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, to play in six World Cups.
Argentina’s squad also includes Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who won the Golden Glove award at the 2022 World Cup.
Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez and Tottenham Hotspur center-back Cristian Romero have also been selected.
Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister and Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez are among the Premier League-based players included in the squad for the tournament, which will be held across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The defending champions have been drawn in Group J. They will begin their campaign against Algeria in Kansas City on June 17 before facing Austria and Jordan in Dallas later in the group stage.
Messi was substituted during Inter Miami’s recent Major League Soccer match on Monday. However, the club later confirmed that he had not suffered an injury and was only dealing with muscle fatigue in his left hamstring.
The Argentine star has earned 198 international caps and could reach the 200-appearance mark during upcoming friendly matches against Honduras and Iceland next month.
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