Messi eyes final World Cup crown with Argentina

Lionel Messi will turn 39 during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but Argentina’s captain remains the defining figure of the defending champions as they try to retain the trophy in North America.

The Argentina forward could have stepped away from international football after leading his country to the World Cup title in Qatar in 2022, but he is set for a record sixth appearance in football’s biggest tournament. Reuters reported that Argentina named Messi in its 26-man squad on May 28, with the team opening its Group J campaign against Algeria on June 16.

Messi produced one of the finest tournament runs of his career three-and-a-half years ago, scoring seven goals and setting up three more in seven games in Qatar.

He scored twice in the final against France in Doha and converted his penalty in the shootout that delivered Argentina’s third World Cup title.

Messi’s decision to delay retirement has given coach Lionel Scaloni more time before confronting the impossible task of replacing him.

“There can’t be. There won’t be. There won’t be an heir to Messi, for sure,” Scaloni said in an interview with Flashscore in September.

Messi is no longer the player he was at Barcelona and left Europe in 2023 after an underwhelming two-season spell at Paris Saint-Germain.

He is also no longer playing at the very highest level every week, and he has not played in a UEFA Champions League knockout tie victory since 2020.

Still, Messi has remained productive for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.

The team notes listed Messi with 13 goals in 16 games in 2026 after helping Inter Miami win the MLS Cup last year, while Inter Miami’s official player statistics listed him with 12 goals and eight assists in 14 MLS appearances as of this week.

His fitness will be watched closely after he was forced off late in Inter Miami’s 6-4 win over the Philadelphia Union, with reports citing a possible leg or hamstring concern before Argentina’s World Cup buildup.

Assuming he clears that injury concern, Messi is expected to lead Argentina into its opening World Cup match against Algeria in Kansas City on June 16.

Messi has added more silverware with Argentina since the last World Cup, captaining the team to victory in the Copa America in the United States in 2024.

He was also the top scorer in South American World Cup qualifying.

“I love playing football, and I’m going to do it until I can’t anymore,” Messi recently declared.

Messi first played in a World Cup as a teenager in Germany in 2006.

He later captained Argentina to the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil, where it lost to Germany in extra time.

Argentina’s all-time leading scorer is also its most-capped player and is two appearances away from reaching 200 caps.

Messi could reach that milestone before the World Cup opener, with Argentina scheduled to play friendlies against Honduras in Texas and Iceland in Alabama before the tournament.

Argentina will begin Group J against Algeria before facing Austria and Jordan in Arlington, Texas.

The match against Jordan will be played three days after Messi’s 39th birthday.

“We’re all fully aware that this could well be Leo’s last World Cup, given his age, but it’s his decision at the end of the day,” teammate Julian Alvarez said in an interview with FIFA.com.

“It’ll certainly make for a special World Cup and I don’t just mean for us, his team-mates and the Argentinian people, but for everyone who watches and follows him, given that he’s the best player of all time.

“He’s made a colossal impact the world over.”

Argentina, however, is not built around Messi alone.

Alvarez, 26, has become a world-class forward for Atletico Madrid and gives Scaloni another elite attacking option.

The squad also features Serie A top scorer Lautaro Martinez, Nico Paz, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister, Cristian Romero and Emiliano Martinez.

Argentina’s 4-1 home win over Brazil in qualifying came without Messi, showing the defending champions can still control major matches without their aging great.

“As an Argentinian, the excitement is always there and we always want to be crowned champions. There’s no reason for this time to be any different,” Alvarez said.