Messi named in Argentina's preliminary 55-man squad for 2026 World Cup
Theo Al Jazeera English
Lionel Messi is among 55 players named in Argentina's preliminary squad for the 2026 World Cup, though the 38-year-old hasn't confirmed his participation. The team will begin its title defense on June 16 against Algeria.
Lionel Scaloni unveiled Argentina's preliminary 55-man squad for the 2026 World Cup on Monday, featuring captain Lionel Messi. However, the 38-year-old star has not yet officially confirmed whether he will play as Argentina begins its title defense.
Messi is one of 16 forwards called up by Scaloni. The list also includes Gianluca Prestianni, despite the player serving a six-match ban that could rule him out of Argentina's first two matches of the tournament.
The Inter Miami and national team captain has repeatedly hinted his time on the international stage is drawing to a close. “I know I'm playing my last games and I'm enjoying them as much as I can,” Messi said after an Inter Miami match in June. “I'm sure you're watching my last moments at the top of football.”
Still, Messi has not announced his retirement from the national team during the buildup to the month-long tournament starting June 11. He was part of Argentina's squad when they began qualifying for the 2026 World Cup but missed recent matches due to injury. Scaloni previously said there was “plenty of time” to decide on Messi's future, and his inclusion in the preliminary squad may signal a final decision has been reached.
Messi's teammates have made their desire clear. Julian Alvarez said: “With Messi, we probably score two or three more goals.” Rodrigo de Paul added: “Our team is always strongest when number 10 is on the pitch because he is the greatest player of all time.”
Messi scored seven goals for Argentina when the team lifted the World Cup for the first time in 36 years at the 2022 tournament. In the final against France, he scored the opening goal in regular time and converted the first penalty in the shootout after the match ended 3–3 following extra time.
Prestianni, 20, will miss at least two group-stage matches due to a six-game ban for using homophobic language during a UEFA Champions League match in February. Playing for Benfica, he was accused of insulting Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr. Prestianni denied the allegations, claiming he was “misunderstood.” The ban was initially imposed by UEFA and later extended by FIFA to all international competitions.
The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, runs until July 19. Argentina opens its title defense against Algeria on June 16 in Kansas City, Missouri, then faces Austria on June 22 in Dallas, Texas, and Jordan on June 27 at the same venue.
