BUENOS AIRES — With less than two months remaining until the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off, reigning world champion Argentina has finalized its 26-man roster for the tournament, with head coach Lionel Scaloni moving quickly to ease widespread concerns over growing injury concerns by confirming that captain Lionel Messi will lead the side as the Albiceleste chases an unprecedented second consecutive World Cup title.
The Argentine Football Association made the official squad announcement on Thursday, with 39-year-old Messi, who is set to make history at this tournament, headlining the roster. 17 of the players called up were part of the 2022 Qatar World Cup-winning squad that defeated France in a historic final to claim the country’s third World Cup crown.
Injuries have cast a long shadow over Argentina’s preparations in the final stretch ahead of FIFA’s June 1 deadline for final squad submission, with multiple key first-team players dealing with fitness issues of differing severity — including Messi himself. The Inter Miami superstar was forced to exit last Sunday’s club match early after suffering muscle fatigue and a strain in his left hamstring. Inter Miami has confirmed that Messi’s recovery timeline remains contingent on his ongoing clinical and functional improvement, but the injury did not prevent him from retaining his place in the squad.
This tournament will mark Messi’s sixth appearance at the World Cup, capping an unparalleled international career that has already seen him compete at the 2006 Germany, 2010 South Africa, 2014 Brazil, 2018 Russia and 2022 Qatar editions of the competition.
Multiple other key starters have also been included in the squad despite ongoing injury recoveries. Star goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, who fractured the ring finger on his right hand during Aston Villa’s Europa League final win last week, has been confirmed for the roster. Tottenham defender Cristian Romero, who has been sidelined since mid-April with a sprained collateral ligament in his right knee, also earned a call-up. Fullbacks Nahuel Molina and Gonzalo Montiel — both of whom stepped up to convert penalties in the dramatic 2022 penalty shootout against France — are also included as they continue working through their own muscle injury recoveries.
As three-time World Cup winners, with previous titles in 1978 and 1986, Argentina will kick off their 2026 campaign in Group J on June 16, with their opening match against Algeria. The group also includes Austria and Jordan. The full squad will depart for their pre-tournament training base in Kansas City on Saturday, and will play warm-up friendlies against Honduras and Iceland before the tournament officially gets underway.
The full 26-man Argentina 2026 World Cup squad is as follows:
Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa), Gerónimo Rulli (Olympique de Marseille), Juan Musso (Atlético de Madrid)
Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate), Nahuel Molina (Atlético de Madrid), Lisandro Martínez (Manchester United), Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica), Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique de Marseille), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), Nicolás Tagliafico (Olympique de Lyon), Facundo Medina (Olympique de Marseille)
Midfielders: Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis), Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors), Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Enzo Fernández (Chelsea), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Valentín Barco (RC Strasbourg Alsace)
Forwards: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Nicolás González (Atlético de Madrid), Giuliano Simeone (Atlético de Madrid), Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan), José Manuel López (Palmeiras), Julián Álvarez (Atlético de Madrid), Thiago Almada (Lyon), Nico Paz (Como)