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Lionel Messi will captain Argentina’s World Cup defense in the 2026 edition, national coach Lionel Scaloni announced as he revealed his 26-man squad.
Messi had not previously confirmed that he would play in the tournament, which would be the 38-year-old’s record-breaking sixth.
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The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner was widely tipped to lead Argentina again, four years after lifting the trophy in Qatar, only to be injured. he endured while playing for his clubInter Miami, also doubted his participation.
As well as confirming Messi’s availability, Thursday’s announcement excluded Real Madrid’s Franco Mastantuono from Argentina’s squad.
The eighteen-year-old Mastantuono is regarded as one of the most promising young players in Argentine football.
The biggest tournament of the World Cup, made up of the United States, Canada and Mexico, will start on June 11.
Argentina’s first game will be five days later against Algeria in Kansas City.
Messi’s biggest threat in recent days came after he came on as a substitute in Miami’s final Major League Soccer (MLS) game before retiring from the World Cup.
Miami’s medical examiner found he has muscle fatigue in his left hip.
The MLS club had no time for Messi to return after he was forced off in the 73rd minute of Miami’s 6-4 win over Philadelphia on Sunday.
Miami said, however, that his recovery time will depend on “his medical progress and performance”.
Scaloni played down the severity of the injury this week, but admitted the player will be out other testsalthough no other changes have been made.
Messi will be playing in his sixth World Cup, having participated in Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022.
Of those invited, 17 players were part of the team that won four years ago in the final against France in Qatar.
Defender Cristian Romero, who suffered a knee injury last month and has not played, has also been named in the squad.
The Tottenham Hotspur captain was unable to stay in the Premier League as he was pushed by Sunderland midfielder Brian Brobbey to be his keeper.
Argentina’s squad retains 17 of the 26 players who won the title in Qatar.
Young players called up include 21-year-old Nicolas Paz and Valentin Barco.
Palmeiras striker Jose Manuel Lopez, who made his international debut last year, is also in the mix.
Other notable absentees include Emiliano Buendia – currently in excellent form at Aston Villa – and Roma star Paulo Dybala.
The South American giants will travel to the United States for pre-World Cup friendlies against Honduras on June 6 and Iceland on June 9.
Argentina’s World Cup group also includes Algeria, Austria and Jordan.
Along with Messi, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Mexico’s goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa are also expected to feature in their sixth World Cup this summer.
Argentina’s World Cup squad:
Scorers: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa, ENG), Geronimo Rulli (Marseille, FRA), Juan Musso (Atletico Madrid, ESP)
Protectors: Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate, ARG), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid, ESP), Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United, ENG), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica, POR), Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique Marseille, FRA), Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur, ENG), Facundo Medina, FRAAfille (Marseis), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica, POR).
Middle players: Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors, ARG), Rodrigo de Paul (Inter Miami, USA), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen, GER), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea, ENG), Alexis MacAllister (Liverpool, ENG), Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis, ESP), Valentin Barbog).
Attackers: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami, USA), Nicolas Paz (Como, ITA), Thiago Almada (Atletico Madrid, ESP), Nicolas Gonzalez (Atletico Madrid, ESP), Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid, ESP), Giuliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid, ESP), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan, Panter Milan, Panter Milan), Lautaro Martinez
