JAKARTA – Argentina has officially announced its final 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup, with head coach Lionel Scaloni confirming a lineup that blends veteran leadership with emerging talent. The announcement, made this Friday, sets the stage for the defending champions as they prepare for the tournament hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, starting June 12.
The headline of the selection is undoubtedly Lionel Messi. By joining the squad, the legendary captain is set to make history by participating in his sixth World Cup, having previously represented Argentina in 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022. Despite recent fitness concerns—specifically a hamstring issue that forced him to leave a match early for Inter Miami—Messi remains the centerpiece of Scaloni’s ambitious project to secure back-to-back titles.
Scaloni’s journey to this final list was meticulous, having initially evaluated a 55-man preliminary squad before narrowing it down to the final 26. The atmosphere within the camp is one of high expectations, with players like Julian Alvarez emphasizing the team’s unwavering hunger for success. “We want to be crowned champions again,” Alvarez stated, reflecting the collective mentality of the Albiceleste as they look to build on their 2022 glory in Qatar.
The squad maintains a strong core, particularly in defense and midfield. The backline continues to be anchored by reliable names such as Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Otamendi, and Nahuel Molina. Meanwhile, the midfield engine room remains packed with experience, featuring Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Leandro Paredes, and Giovani Lo Celso.
In the attacking third, Messi will be supported by a potent mix of talent including Julian Alvarez, Lautaro Martinez, Nicolas Gonzalez, Thiago Almada, Giuliano Simeone, and Nico Paz. Behind them, Emiliano Martinez remains the undisputed first-choice goalkeeper, supported by Juan Musso and Geronimo Rulli.
While the squad is star-studded, the final selection process was difficult, resulting in notable omissions such as Franco Mastantuono, Gianluca Prestianni, and Marcos Acuna. Nevertheless, with a balanced roster, Argentina enters the tournament as one of the primary favorites to lift the trophy once again.
According to the official AFA records, here is the full list of the 26 players representing Argentina in the 2026 World Cup:
Goalkeepers
Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Geronimo Rulli (Olympique Marseille), Juan Musso (Atletico Madrid)
Defenders
Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique Marseille), Nicolas Tagliafico (Olympique Lyon), Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate), Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United), Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Facundo Medina (Olympique Marseille), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid)
Midfielders
Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors), Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami), Valentin Barco (Racing Strasbourg), Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea)
Forwards
Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Nico Gonzalez (Atletico Madrid), Thiago Almada (Atletico Madrid), Giuliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid), Nico Paz (Como), Juan Manuel Lopez (Palmeiras), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan)
With this final roster locked in, Argentina is ready to defend its status as a global football powerhouse on the world’s biggest stage.
Summary
Argentina has officially confirmed its 26-man roster for the 2026 World Cup, featuring a strategic blend of veteran experience and emerging young talent. Head coach Lionel Scaloni leads the squad, with Lionel Messi set to make history by participating in his record-breaking sixth tournament as the team aims to defend their world title.
The final selection, narrowed down from a preliminary list of 55 players, includes key contributors like Julian Alvarez, Enzo Fernandez, and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. Despite a few notable omissions, the balanced squad remains a primary favorite to win the upcoming tournament hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.