Lionel Messi was one of 55 players named to Argentina’s preliminary roster for the 2026 World Cup.
Messi, 38, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, is set to play in his sixth World Cup, though he has yet to confirm that he will lead the Albiceleste when they defend their championship this summer.
Messi led Argentina’s 2026 World Cup qualification campaign with eight goals and appeared in 12 of the country’s 18 qualifiers, According To ESPN.
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Roma’s Paulo Dybala, the 2022 World Cup winner, has not played since 2024 and was not one of the 55.
However, Atletico Madrid forward Julián Álvarez and Inter Milan attacker Lautaro Martínez are listed.
Gianluca Prestianni, Benfica winger, has also been named. But if he makes the final 26-man roster, he would miss the first two World Cup games due to suspension.
Prestianni received a six-game suspension by UEFA, with three games postponed on probation, for verbally abusing Real Madrid’s Brazilian striker Vinícius Júnior in the Champions League. FIFA notified the global impact of this decision.
Argentina’s World Cup campaign begins on June 16 against Algeria, and they will face Austria and Jordan in Group J.
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