Messi to Captain Holders Argentina at Record Sixth World Cup as Scaloni Names Final 26
Lionel Messi will play in a record sixth World Cup as captain of holders Argentina after being named in Lionel Scaloni's 26-man squad. The 38-year-old, Argentina's all-time leading scorer with 116 goals, joins Cristiano Ronaldo as the only male players to appear in six editions. Argentina open Group J against Algeria in Kansas City on June 16.
L ionel Messi will play in a sixth World Cup as he captains holders Argentina at the 2026 tournament. The 38-year-old forward, who led his country to a third world title in Qatar with a penalty shootout win over France four years ago, was named in Lionel Scaloni's 26-man squad on Thursday. Argentina defend the trophy across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
A record sixth World Cup
With 26 appearances, Messi already holds the record for the most World Cup matches by any player. This summer he joins Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, as the only male players to appear in a sixth edition of the tournament. Messi is also Argentina's all-time leading scorer with 116 goals in 198 appearances.
The spine of the 2022 winners returns
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, named the best goalkeeper of the 2022 tournament, is in the squad, as are centre-backs Lisandro Martínez of Manchester United and Cristian Romero of Tottenham. Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister and Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández are among the British-based players selected. The most notable omissions from the final cut are Franco Mastantuono and the veteran defender Marcos Acuña.
Group J: Algeria, Austria, Jordan
Argentina are in Group J and begin their campaign against Algeria in Kansas City on June 16. They then play twice in Dallas, against Austria on June 22 and against Jordan on June 27. Kick-off for the Algeria and Jordan matches falls late in the evening US time, which is the early hours of the following day in the United Kingdom.
Messi fitness and the road to 200 caps
Messi was substituted during Inter Miami's most recent Major League Soccer match, but the club said he had not sustained an injury and was managing muscle fatigue in his left hamstring. He has made 198 appearances for Argentina and will reach 200 if he features in both of the country's pre-tournament friendlies, against Honduras in Texas on June 7 and against Iceland in Alabama on June 9.
The full 26
Goalkeepers: Juan Musso (Atlético Madrid), Gerónimo Rulli (Marseille), Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa). Defenders: Leonardo Balerdi (Marseille), Nicolás Tagliafico (Lyon), Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate), Lisandro Martínez (Manchester United), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica), Facundo Medina (Marseille), Nahuel Molina (Atlético Madrid). Midfielders: Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors), Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami), Valentín Barco (Strasbourg), Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Enzo Fernández (Chelsea). Forwards: Julián Álvarez (Atlético Madrid), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Nicolás González (Atlético Madrid), Thiago Almada (Atlético Madrid), Giuliano Simeone (Atlético Madrid), Nico Paz (Como), José Manuel López (Palmeiras), Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan).
Reporting: BBC Sport and AFA, May 28, 2026. Leandro Paredes is at Boca Juniors, where he returned in 2025.