Lionel Messi (38, Inter Miami), widely regarded as the greatest of all time, will lead Argentina's bid for back-to-back World Cup titles as he steps onto the tournament stage for a sixth time.
Messi was included in the 26-man final squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, announced by the Argentine Football Association (AFA) on Saturday, Korea time.
The selection puts Messi on track to make history alongside Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr) as the first players ever to appear in six consecutive World Cups. Having played in five tournaments from the 2006 Germany edition through the 2022 Qatar edition, Messi has scored 13 goals with eight assists in 26 matches. He will also challenge the all-time World Cup scoring record held by Germany's Miroslav Klose, who netted 16 goals in 24 matches.
Argentina, the reigning champion from the 2022 Qatar World Cup, is aiming for consecutive titles. Only Italy (1934, 1938) and Brazil (1958, 1962) have ever won back-to-back World Cups in the tournament's history.
Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni named 17 members of the Qatar World Cup-winning squad to the final list, including Messi, Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea), Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid) and Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan).
Midfielder Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis), who missed the Qatar tournament due to injury, will make his second World Cup appearance and his first since the 2018 Russia edition, eight years ago. Forwards Jose Manuel Lopez (Palmeiras) and Thiago Almada (Atletico Madrid) earned their first career World Cup call-ups.
