With or without Messi? Argentina reveals player list for the World Cup
· Telemundo McAllen (KTLM)
Amid a wave of injuries that raised concerns, Argentina's coach, Lionel Scaloni, sought to clear doubts by confirming that most of the reigning world champions will be part of the squad aiming for a second consecutive title at the 2026 World Cup starting next month, including captain Lionel Messi, who will set a record with his sixth participation. Messi, nearing his 39th birthday, leads the list of 26 players for the World Cup announced by the Argentine Football Association (AFA) on Thursday with an emotional video featuring Scaloni himself. With this being his sixth World Cup, Messi will establish an absolute record, having previously participated in Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018, and Qatar 2022. Of those called up, 17 players were part of the squad that triumphed four years ago in the unforgettable final against France in Qatar. Several of these names were in doubt due to various injuries close to FIFA's deadline for finalizing World Cup rosters, including Messi himself, who is dealing with a strain related to muscle fatigue in his left hamstring, preventing him from finishing the match with his team Inter Miami last Sunday. The club has officially stated that recovery times will depend on 'his clinical and functional evolution.' 'To defend the crown,' welcomed the official FIFA account for the 2026 World Cup, with an image of the star alongside the trophy in Qatar. In this edition, Messi aims to surpass other records: if Argentina wins a match with him on the field, he will tie with German Miroslav Klose (17) as the player with the most victories in World Cups. He is also three goals away from matching Klose as the tournament's all-time top scorer. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, who suffered a fracture in the ring finger of his right hand during the Europa League final where Aston Villa defeated Freiburg last week, was also confirmed for the World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Scaloni included defender Cristian Romero, who is recovering from a sprain in the collateral ligament of his right knee suffered in mid-April while playing for Tottenham, and full-backs Nahuel Molina and Gonzalo Montiel—who scored the decisive penalty in the shootout against France in 2022—who are dealing with various muscle injuries. Notable absences include 18-year-old forward Franco Mastantuno, who made a high-profile transfer to Real Madrid last season but never secured a spot on the first team, and experienced full-back Marcos Acuña, who has physical issues. Among the new talents making their World Cup debut are Valentín Barco, a recent signing for Chelsea, and Nicolás Paz, a standout from Como in Italy who just achieved historic qualification for the upcoming Champions League. Additionally, striker Juan Manuel López (Palmeiras) was called up to strengthen the offensive line that includes Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez with guaranteed spots. The Albiceleste, also world champions in 1978 and 1986, will debut on June 16 against Algeria in Group J, which also includes Austria and Jordan. The squad will travel on Saturday to their World Cup base in Kansas City and will play friendly matches against Honduras and Iceland before the tournament begins.
AI summary · Source: Telemundo McAllen (KTLM) →
