Argentina announces 26-man squad, Messi to captain

Lionel Messi will captain Argentina at this year’s World Cup, coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed on Thursday while unveiling his 26-man squad for the tournament.

The 38-year-old forward had not publicly confirmed his participation, but he is now set to make a record-breaking sixth World Cup appearance for Argentina.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner will once again lead the defending champions, four years after guiding the Albiceleste to glory in Qatar.

One notable omission from the squad was Real Madrid teenager Franco Mastantuono. The 18-year-old midfielder is widely regarded as one of Argentina’s brightest emerging talents.

The expanded 48-team World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, begins on June 11. Argentina will open their campaign against Algeria in Kansas City on June 16.

Messi’s inclusion comes amid recent injury concerns. Inter Miami revealed earlier this week that the Argentine captain had suffered muscle fatigue in his left hamstring after leaving Sunday’s 6-4 win over Philadelphia in the 73rd minute.

The MLS club did not specify a timeline for his return, though Scaloni later downplayed the severity of the issue.

Tottenham Hotspur defender Cristian Romero was also named in the squad despite recently recovering from a knee injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the Premier League season.

Argentina retain 17 players from their 2022 World Cup-winning squad in Qatar.

Among the younger additions are Como midfielder Nicolas Paz and Strasbourg’s Valentin Barco, both 21, while Palmeiras striker Jose Manuel Lopez also earned a place after making his senior international debut last year.

Notable absentees include Aston Villa playmaker Emiliano Buendia and Roma forward Paulo Dybala.

Argentina will play warm-up matches against Honduras on June 6 and Iceland on June 9 before beginning their World Cup campaign. Their group also includes Austria and Jordan.

Alongside Messi, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa are also expected to feature in their sixth World Cups this summer.

Squad:

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), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis), Valentin Barco (Strasbourg)

Forwards: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Nicolas Paz (Como), Thiago Almada (Atletico Madrid), Nicolas Gonzalez (Atletico Madrid), Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid), Giuliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan), Jose Manuel Lopez (Palmeiras)