Argentina 2026 World Cup Squad: Messi's Last Dance

No team has won consecutive World Cups since Brazil in 1958 and 1962. That is the challenge Argentina carry into North America this summer alongside the most extraordinary individual story the tournament has ever produced. Lionel Messi is heading to his sixth World Cup at 38 years old, three goals shy of Miroslav Klose's all-time record of 16 World Cup goals, defending a trophy he spent his entire career chasing. It is, in every sense of the phrase, the last dance.

Argentina are defending champions. Seventeen members of the squad that won in Qatar in 2022 have been included again. Manager Lionel Scaloni has built something rare in international football — a genuine team culture, a settled system and a group of players who have won the Copa America in 2021, the World Cup in 2022 and the Copa America again in 2024. Three trophies in four years. La Scaloneta is real. The question is whether they can become the first team in sixty-four years to defend their title.

The Group Stage Draw: Group J

Argentina are in Group J alongside Algeria, Austria and Jordan. They open against Algeria on 16 June at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, before facing Austria and Jordan in Dallas. It is a manageable group for the world champions and the expectation — both from the squad themselves and from the bookmakers who have them at around 9/1 — is that they progress comfortably to the knockout rounds.

The real tournament for Argentina begins in the round of 32. If they make it that far with Messi fit and firing, the scale of what they might achieve becomes the most talked-about story in the world.

The Full Argentina 2026 World Cup Squad

Goalkeepers

Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa) — Dibu. The goalkeeper who won the Golden Glove in 2022 and saved Argentina in two penalty shootouts on the way to the title. His theatrics from the penalty spot, his connection with the crowd and his technical excellence between the posts make him one of the most influential goalkeepers at any World Cup. His importance to Argentina extends beyond what he does with his feet and hands — he gives the whole squad a psychological certainty that their goal will be defended.

Defenders

Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur) — The physical, aggressive centre-back who has been one of the most important defensive figures in Scaloni's system. Romero suffered an MCL injury in the buildup to the tournament and his fitness is a genuine concern for Argentina's prospects, but he has been included and the plan is to have him available for the knockout rounds if not the group stage.

Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United) — One of the most reliable central defensive options in the squad and a player whose ability to defend aggressively and play out from the back fits perfectly into how Scaloni wants Argentina to operate.

Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica) — The experienced defensive presence whose tournament experience from 2022 and multiple Copa Americas gives the squad a senior voice at the back.

Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid) — The right-back who scored one of the great World Cup goals in Qatar 2022, his first-time finish after a brilliant pass from Messi in the quarter-final against the Netherlands. His attacking quality down the right flank gives Argentina width and a genuine threat in combination with Messi.

Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon) — The left-back who has been one of the most consistent performers in Scaloni's system over many years and who provides defensive solidity and attacking support on the left side.

Leonardo Balerdi, Gonzalo Montiel, Facundo Medina — Additional defensive cover giving Scaloni options across the back line.

Midfielders

Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool) — One of the most important players in Argentina's midfield and a player who has had an outstanding season at Liverpool. Mac Allister's ability to control the tempo of a match, his technical quality in tight spaces and his contribution going forward make him one of the most complete midfielders in the squad. His performance at the 2022 World Cup was a major factor in Argentina's success and he goes into this tournament in the best form of his career.

Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea) — Named Best Young Player at the 2022 World Cup, Fernandez has continued to develop into one of the most accomplished midfielders in the Premier League. His ability to progress the ball, his reading of the game and his experience of the biggest occasions give Argentina a player of enormous quality in the engine room.

Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami) — A World Cup winner who gives Argentina intensity, pressing and box-to-box energy from midfield. His partnership with Mac Allister and Fernandez gives Scaloni a midfield trio with technical quality, physical presence and tournament experience.

Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors) — The experienced defensive midfielder who provides structure and discipline in the centre of the pitch, giving Argentina a reliable option to protect the defence when the situation requires it.

Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Valentin Barco — Additional midfield depth offering Scaloni different options in how he shapes the team across different games.

Forwards

Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) — The greatest footballer of all time. His sixth World Cup. At 38 years old, arriving at this tournament with a hamstring scare in the buildup that raised concerns but has not ruled him out. He is three goals away from equalling Klose's record of 16 World Cup goals. He won the Golden Ball in 2022 and delivered the greatest individual World Cup tournament performance in the history of the competition. Nobody expected him to be anything other than himself in Qatar and he was so much more than that. What he brings to this tournament defies simple description. If Argentina retain the title, it will be the defining chapter in the most remarkable individual story sport has ever produced.

Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid) — The player who scored four goals at the 2022 World Cup on the way to the title and who has continued to develop into one of the most effective centre-forwards in world football at Atletico Madrid. His movement, his pressing, his ability to score from inside and outside the area and his partnership with Messi give Argentina their most dangerous attacking combination. He is one of the players the rest of the tournament fears most.

Lautaro Martinez (Internazionale) — The top scorer at the 2024 Copa America and one of the most clinical strikers in Serie A. Martinez gives Scaloni a powerful physical option through the middle who can play alongside Alvarez or as a central striker when needed. His relationship with Messi at international level has been one of the defining features of this Argentina generation.

Thiago Almada (Atletico Madrid) — One of the most exciting creative players in Argentina's squad. Almada's ability to receive in tight spaces, to find angles that do not appear to exist and to deliver the decisive ball in the final third makes him one of the most intriguing options Scaloni has available.

Nico Paz (Como) — The brightest of Argentina's new generation. After a breakout season in Serie A with Como — where he led the club to Champions League qualification for the first time in their history under Cesc Fabregas — Paz earns his first World Cup call. His creativity and technical quality give Argentina another dimension in attacking areas.

Giuliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid), Nicolas Gonzalez (Atletico Madrid), Jose Manuel Lopez (Palmeiras) — Additional attacking options giving Scaloni genuine depth across the forward line.

The Big Absentee: Angel Di Maria

Angel Di Maria retired from international football after Argentina's 2024 Copa America victory. He scored in the 2022 World Cup Final, the 2021 Copa America final and the 2024 Copa America final — the most important goals in Argentina's most important matches across a golden era. His absence is felt but the squad has evolved beyond needing him. Argentina in 2026 are built differently to the team that needed Di Maria's individual brilliance to produce the moments that mattered. They have depth, system and collective quality that means the absence of one player, however brilliant, does not undermine what Scaloni has built.

Can They Do What Nobody Has Done Since 1962?

Brazil won the World Cup in 1958 and 1962. No team since has retained the title. Italy failed in 1938 — though as the only precedent before Brazil, that shows how the feat was once achievable. But the modern era of football, with its depth of competition and the way tournament football now operates, has made back-to-back titles the most difficult achievement in the sport.

Argentina have the squad to get there. Emiliano Martinez in goal gives them the best penalty specialist in the world. Messi and Alvarez give them an attacking partnership that defenders have no reliable answer for. The midfield of Mac Allister, Fernandez and De Paul is one of the most technically accomplished trios at any World Cup. And Scaloni has the tactical flexibility and the trust of his players to make the right decisions when the knockout rounds demand it.

The 2026 World Cup is Messi's last. It is Argentina's chance to make history. Those two facts together make them one of the most compelling stories in the tournament. Explore the football fanwear collection at Players Couture — Lionel Messi, and more legends of the game — and wear the name of the player you believe in this summer.