Argentina unveil strong 26-man Title defence squad led by Lionel Messi

Defending champions Argentina national football team have officially unveiled their 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with captain Lionel Messi set to lead La Albiceleste in what will be a historic sixth World Cup appearance of his legendary career.

Head coach Lionel Scaloni announced the final squad on Thursday (May 28), blending experienced stars from the Qatar World Cup-winning side with a new generation of emerging talents as Argentina prepare to defend their global crown.

Messi, who guided Argentina to their third World Cup title in Qatar, now stands on the brink of another milestone. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner already holds the record for most appearances (198) and most goals (116) for Argentina and will once again carry the nation’s hopes on football’s biggest stage.

One of the biggest surprises in Scaloni’s squad announcement was the omission of promising young forward Franco Mastantuono, who failed to secure a place in Argentina’s final attacking lineup. Veteran defender Marcos Acuña, a key member of the 2022 World Cup-winning team, was also left out — decisions that quickly sparked debate among fans and football analysts.

Despite those notable exclusions, Scaloni has retained the core strength of the title-winning side. Rising stars including Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister, Julián Álvarez and Giuliano Simeone have all secured spots in the squad.

In attack, Messi will again be partnered by prolific striker Lautaro Martínez, while trusted goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez remains Argentina’s first choice between the posts.

Argentina’s final 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup:

Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martínez, Gerónimo Rulli, Juan Musso.

Defenders: Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Nicolás Otamendi, Nahuel Molina, Gonzalo Montiel, Nicolás Tagliafico, Leonardo Balerdi, Facundo Medina.

Midfielders: Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernández, Leandro Paredes, Giovani Lo Celso, Exequiel Palacios, Valentín Barco.

Forwards: Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martínez, Julián Álvarez, Nicolás González, Giuliano Simeone, Nico Paz, Thiago Almada, José Manuel López.

Argentina have been drawn into Group J for the tournament and will begin their title defence on June 16 against Algeria in Kansas City, Missouri. They will then face Austria on June 22 in Arlington, Texas, before concluding the group stage against Jordan on June 27 at the same venue.

Under the tournament format, the top two teams from each group along with the eight best third-placed teams will advance to the knockout stage.