Argentina arrive at the 2026 FIFA World Cup as defending champions chasing something football has rarely seen: back-to-back titles. The last men to do it were Brazil, in 1962. Since then, three of the last four title-holders were eliminated in the group stage. Lionel Scaloni's squad carries genuine quality across every line, but also the unmistakable weight of age, injury, and the shadow of a
Lionel Messi who turns 39 during the tournament. The picture is fascinating and complicated in equal measure.
Argentina squad World Cup 2026
Scaloni has named a 26-man roster that balances tournament-proven winners with a handful of younger players expected to shoulder more responsibility in the post-Di Maria era.
Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa), Gerónimo Rulli (Olympique de Marseille), Juan Musso (Atlético de Madrid)
Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate), Nahuel Molina (Atlético de Madrid), Lisandro Martínez (Manchester United), Nicolás Otamendi (SL Benfica), Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique de Marseille), Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur), Facundo Medina (Olympique de Marseille), Nicolás Tagliafico (Olympique Lyonnais)
Midfielders: Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors), Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Enzo Fernández (Chelsea), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis), Valentín Barco (RC Strasbourg)
Forwards: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Nicolás Paz (Como 1907), Thiago Almada (Atlético de Madrid), Nicolás González (Atlético de Madrid), Giuliano Simeone (Atlético de Madrid), Lautaro Martínez (Internazionale), José Manuel López (Palmeiras), Julián Álvarez (Atlético de Madrid)
Who are Argentina's star players to watch at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
Messi is the obvious entry point. With 26 World Cup appearances, he holds the all-time record for most appearances at the tournament by any male player. He is three goals short of the all-time World Cup scoring record of 16. This is almost certainly his sixth and final tournament, and whether or not he can influence matches at the same level as 2022 will define Argentina's ceiling.
Julián Álvarez is the player perhaps most ready to inherit that burden. The Atlético Madrid striker scored four goals during Argentina's 2022 campaign and has only grown since, becoming one of the most complete centre-forwards in Europe under Diego Simeone. His relentless pressing and movement give Scaloni a striker built for every type of match.
Enzo Fernández claimed the FIFA Best Young Player Award in 2022 and remains pivotal in midfield. Alongside Alexis Mac Allister, he forms one of the most balanced central partnerships at this level of international football.
Keep an eye on Nicolás Paz, the 21-year-old flourishing at FC Como. He is a legitimate contender for the Best Young Player award and represents the most exciting new name in this squad. Rodrigo De Paul and Emiliano Martínez round out the key names: De Paul as the engine who covers vast space to protect Messi's defensive responsibilities, and Martínez as the goalkeeper whose penalty-shootout heroics have already won Argentina one World Cup.
Predicted Argentina Starting XI for World Cup 2026
Scaloni's system has been consistent enough that picking his likely XI involves very little guesswork.
In goal, Emiliano Martínez is uncontested. The backline will be a four-man unit, almost certainly featuring Lisandro Martínez and Cristian Romero as the centre-back pairing, with Nahuel Molina at right back and Nicolás Tagliafico on the left. Otamendi and Balerdi provide cover, though Balerdi's fitness situation complicates that depth (more on that below).
In midfield, De Paul and Mac Allister are effectively untouchable starters. The third spot comes down to Enzo Fernández versus Thiago Almada, with Fernández's 2022 experience likely edging him into the XI.
Up front, Messi, Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez represent Scaloni's first-choice attacking trio.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Emi Martínez; Molina, Lisandro, Romero, Tagliafico; De Paul, Mac Allister, Fernández; Messi, Lautaro, Álvarez
Argentina FIFA 2026 squad injury status
This is where Argentina's preparations have been complicated. The squad is heading into the tournament carrying several significant fitness concerns.
Leonardo Balerdi has already been ruled out entirely after suffering a soleus muscle tear in training in Texas. The AFA confirmed his withdrawal and Scaloni is currently evaluating replacements.
Lionel Messi is managing lingering muscle fatigue alongside a left hamstring strain. He has been confirmed in the squad, but his physical load will need careful management across a tournament that now includes a Round of 32 under the expanded 48-team format.
Emiliano Martínez is recovering from a fractured right finger sustained during the Europa League final. Cristian Romero is working to be fit after spraining the collateral ligament in his right knee. Both Nahuel Molina and Gonzalo Montiel are recovering from muscle injuries. Leandro Paredes faces serious doubts over his availability for the opening fixtures.
Strength and Weakness of Argentina squad
StrengthsArgentina's greatest asset right now is not any individual — it is the structural intelligence Scaloni has built around his squad. De Paul acts as a shield on the right side of midfield, covering space and freeing Messi from defensive tracking. Mac Allister brings balance. The system is designed specifically to extend Messi's influence without burning him out over seven potential matches.
The defensive numbers from CONMEBOL qualifying back this up: Argentina finished first in the standings, conceding just ten goals across 18 matches — the best defensive record on the continent. That is not a coincidence; it reflects how well-drilled Scaloni's backline has become.
WeaknessesFull-back positions carry risk against elite wide players. If Romero or Lisandro Martínez miss time, the defensive structure loses genuine quality in central areas. The expanded 48-team format, with its additional Round of 32 fixture, adds physical load at precisely the moment when Argentina's older players are most exposed. Managing that across a compressed schedule, with multiple fitness concerns already present, is arguably the biggest challenge Scaloni faces.
FIFA World Cup 2026 – Argentina's group stage schedule
Argentina have been drawn into Group J alongside Jordan, Algeria and Austria.
All times in local time (CDT):16 June, 20:00 — Argentina vs Algeria, Kansas City, Missouri22 June, 12:00 — Argentina vs Austria, Arlington, Texas27 June, 21:00 — Jordan vs Argentina, Arlington, TexasOn paper, it is a manageable group. But with their injury list and the physical demands of the tournament, Scaloni will be managing players carefully from the first whistle.
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