Messi named in Argentina squad for sixth World Cup
Lionel Messi has been named in Argentina's squad for the 2026 World Cup, which will be his sixth appearance at the tournament. Coach Lionel Scaloni has retained much of the side that won the title in Qatar in 2022.
PARIS: Lionel Messi has been included in Argentina's squad for the 2026 World Cup, setting up a sixth appearance at the tournament and extending his national record.
The 38-year-old Inter Miami forward headlines a group that largely keeps together the side that won the World Cup in Qatar in 2022. Emiliano Martinez, Nicolas Otamendi, Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez are among 17 players from that title-winning squad who have been retained by coach Lionel Scaloni.
Scaloni has kept the core of the world champions intact, though veteran winger Angel Di Maria was not part of the selection after ending his international career following the 2024 Copa America. Midfielder Giovani Lo Celso, who missed the 2022 World Cup because of injury, returns for his second finals after previously being in Argentina's squad for the 2018 tournament in Russia without playing a match.
New faces in the squad
Argentina have also brought in a number of younger players viewed as part of the team's next generation. Those named include Valentin Barco, Nicolas Paz and Giuliano Simeone, while forwards Jose Manuel Lopez and Thiago Almada are set for their first World Cup appearances.
Local media reports said left back Marcos Acuna, who was part of Argentina's 2022 World Cup-winning squad, was left out because of fitness concerns.
Group-stage schedule
Argentina will begin their Group J campaign against Algeria on June 16. They will then play Jordan and Austria in their remaining group matches.
The squad named by Argentina is as follows:
Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez, Geronimo Rulli, Juan Musso.
Defenders: Leonardo Balerdi, Gonzalo Montiel, Nicolas Tagliafico, Lisandro Martinez, Cristian Romero, Nicolas Otamendi, Facundo Medina, Nahuel Molina.
Midfielders: Leandro Paredes, Rodrigo De Paul, Valentin Barco, Giovani Lo Celso, Exequiel Palacios, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez.
Forwards: Julian Alvarez, Lionel Messi, Nicolas Gonzalez, Thiago Almada, Giuliano Simeone, Nicolas Paz, Jose Manuel Lopez, Lautaro Martinez.
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