Messi captains Argentina's 26-man squad for 2026 World Cup despite injury scare

Lionel Messi will captain Argentina's 26-player squad for the 2026 World Cup, despite a recent left hamstring concern. The Inter Miami CF forward, who will be nearly 39, leads a group that largely mirrors the 2022 World Cup-winning team. Angel di Maria, who retired internationally after the 2024 Copa America, is the main omission.

The squad includes a strong contingent of 2022 champions, with no major surprises apart from the absence of 18-year-old Real Madrid midfielder Franco Mastantuono. Five players from France's Ligue 1 are included: three from Marseille, one from Lyon, and one from Strasbourg. Marseille's Geronimo Rulli is the second-choice goalkeeper behind "Dibu" Martinez, and defenders Leonardo Balerdi and Facundo Medina also feature. Lyon's Nicolas Tagliafico and Strasbourg's Valentin Barco complete the Ligue 1 contingent.

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the first news is not so bad

Messi's inclusion comes after he was substituted in his last MLS match before the World Cup due to a hamstring issue. His club, Inter Miami, stated he suffered from "overexertion associated with muscle fatigue in his left hamstring." However, Argentina's coach, Lionel Scaloni, expressed cautious optimism, noting that initial reports were "not so bad." Scaloni awaits further test results to confirm Messi's fitness.

Messi has managed his workload carefully since joining Inter Miami in 2023, often being rested during busy periods. He has experienced hamstring problems in recent years, impacting his preparation. If he plays, this World Cup would be his sixth, a record he would share with Cristiano Ronaldo. The 2026 World Cup is co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

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Logically, we would prefer that nothing had happened to him. Now, we have to wait and see how he evolves and, above all, the new tests they will do to him, I imagine, to see if it is really as they say.