Lionel Messi, the forward for Inter Miami FC and an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, has been selected for the Argentinian national team for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup. This announcement was made by the Argentinian Football Association’s press service on May 29th.
According to “Sport-Express,” the forthcoming tournament could be Messi’s sixth World Cup appearance of his career. This would match the record held by Cristiano Ronaldo, who has also been included in Portugal’s squad. Previously, the record for the most World Cups played (five) was shared by Mexico’s Antonio Carbajal and Rafael Márquez, along with Germany’s Lothar Matthäus.
In addition to Messi, the Argentinian squad features players such as Julián Álvarez, Lautaro Martínez, and Matías Soulé, as well as defenders Lisandro Martínez, Cristian Romero, and Nicolás Otamendi.
The 2026 World Cup is scheduled to take place from June 11th to July 19th. For the first time in history, the final stage of the tournament will be hosted by three nations simultaneously: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Furthermore, the competition will expand to accommodate 48 national teams, a new record for participation.
Meanwhile, Neymar, a forward for Brazilian football club Santos, may miss the start of the World Cup due to an injury. Reports from May 28th indicate that the player is likely to be sidelined from Brazil’s preparatory friendly matches as well, due to a calf muscle injury.
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