Lionel Messi Included in Argentina's Preliminary Squad for 2026 World Cup
Argentina's World Cup Preparations Begin
Buenos Aires [Argentina], May 12: Iconic football star Lionel Messi has been selected in Argentina's initial 55-man roster for the upcoming 2026 World Cup. Coach Lionel Scaloni is starting to assemble his squad as they aim to defend their title following their victory in 2022.
While Messi has yet to officially announce his participation in the tournament, he remains a crucial element of Scaloni's long-term strategy as the team gears up for their title defense.
The preliminary squad features numerous players based in Europe, including Cristian Romero from Tottenham, Alejandro Garnacho of Chelsea, and Nico Paz from Como.
Despite being sidelined for the rest of the Premier League season due to injury, Romero has been included as Argentina evaluates their options ahead of final squad decisions.
Messi holds the record for the most appearances in World Cup history, having played in 26 matches throughout the tournament.
During Argentina's victorious campaign in the 2022 World Cup, Messi contributed to 10 goals, becoming the first player since Diego Maradona in 1986 to achieve this feat in a single tournament.
Argentina aspires to be the first men's team to win back-to-back World Cups since Brazil in 1962. However, recent trends are not in their favor, as three of the last four defending champions were eliminated in the group stage.
La Albiceleste will compete in Group J alongside World Cup newcomers Jordan, two-time African champions Algeria, and Austria, who are making their first tournament appearance in the 21st century.
FIFA World Cup 2026 – Argentina's Provisional Squad
Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Geronimo Rulli (Olympique de Marseille), Juan Musso (Atletico de Madrid), Walter Benitez (Crystal Palace FC), Facundo Cambeses (Racing Club), Santiago Beltran (River Plate)
Defenders: Agustin Giay (Palmeiras), Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate), Nahuel Molina (Atletico de Madrid), Nicolas Capaldo (Hamburger SV), Kevin Mac Allister (Union Saint Gilloise), Lucas Martinez Quarta (River Plate), Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth), Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United), Nicolas Otamendi (SL Benfica), German Pezzella (River Plate), Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique de Marseille), Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur), Lautaro Di Lollo (Boca Juniors), Zaid Romero (Getafe CF), Facundo Medina (Olympique de Marseille), Marcos Acuna (River Plate), Nicolas Tagliafico (Olympique Lyonnais), Gabriel Rojas (Racing Club)
Midfielders: Maximo Perrone (Como 1907), Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors), Guido Rodriguez (Valencia CF), Anibal Moreno (River Plate), Milton Delgado (Boca Juniors), Alan Varela (FC Porto), Ezequiel Fernandez (Bayer Leverkusen), Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis), Nicolas Dominguez (Nottingham Forest), Emiliano Buendia (Aston Villa), Valentin Barco (RC Strasbourg)
Forwards: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Nicolas Paz (Como 1907), Franco Mastantuono (Real Madrid), Thiago Almada (Atletico de Madrid), Tomas Aranda (Boca Juniors), Nicolas Gonzalez (Atletico de Madrid), Alejandro Garnacho (Chelsea), Giuliano Simeone (Atletico de Madrid), Matias Soule (AS Roma), Claudio Echeverri (Girona FC), Gianluca Prestianni (SL Benfica), Santiago Castro (Bologna FC), Lautaro Martinez (Internazionale), Jose Manuel Lopez (Palmeiras), Julian Alvarez (Atletico de Madrid), Mateo Pellegrino (Parma Calcio).