The Argentina national football team has officially unveiled its 25-man squad for the 2026 World Cup. All eyes are fixed on legendary captain Lionel Messi, who is set to make a historic sixth appearance in the tournament’s history, overcoming recent hamstring concerns during his club campaign with Inter Miami to lead his nation once again.
Head coach Lionel Scaloni has made several bold tactical decisions in finalizing this roster. In a move that highlights the competitive nature of the selection, promising young talents such as Gianluca Prestianni and Franco Mastantuono have been left out, as has Alejandro Garnacho. By balancing the inclusion of seasoned veterans with carefully selected emerging players, Scaloni aims to maintain the tactical depth and championship pedigree required to defend Argentina’s title on the global stage.
Goalkeepers
- Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
- Geronimo Rulli (Marseille)
- Juan Musso (Atletico Madrid)
Defenders
- Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate)
- Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid)
- Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United)
- Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica)
- Leonardo Balerdi (Marseille)
- Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur)
- Facundo Medina (Marseille)
- Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon)
Midfielders
- Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors)
- Rodrigo de Paul (Inter Miami)
- Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen)
- Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea)
- Alex Mac Allister (Liverpool)
- Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis)
- Valentin Barco (Strasbourg)
Forwards
- Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
- Nicolas Paz (Como)
- Thiago Almada (Atletico Madrid)
- Giuliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid)
- Lautaro Martinez (Inter)
- Jose Manuel Lopez (Palmeiras)
- Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid)
Summary
The Argentina national football team has announced its 25-man squad for the 2026 World Cup, with Lionel Messi set to make a historic sixth tournament appearance. Despite recent hamstring concerns, Messi will captain the team as they look to defend their title. The roster features a strategic mix of experienced veterans and carefully selected emerging talents chosen by head coach Lionel Scaloni.
Scaloni’s final selection includes notable exclusions such as Alejandro Garnacho, Gianluca Prestianni, and Franco Mastantuono to prioritize tactical depth. The squad is comprised of a balanced group of goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and forwards currently playing for top clubs worldwide. This competitive lineup aims to maintain Argentina’s championship pedigree throughout the upcoming global tournament.