Will Argentina carry Messi to the World Cup this time?

Lionel Messi appears poised to compete in his sixth and final World Cup in 2026, a prospect that recently caused alarm among Argentine fans when the star forward suffered a muscle strain scare. Fortunately, Inter Miami's medical team confirmed the issue was only muscle fatigue, not a serious injury.

Argentina, fresh off their triumphant 2022 World Cup victory, now faces the daunting "champion's curse." This phenomenon has seen recent World Cup winners struggle in subsequent tournaments, with a notable trend of early exits from 2002 to 2018. While France broke this pattern by reaching the 2022 final, the curse highlights the difficulty reigning champions face.

The core concern for Argentina is the aging of its squad. Many key players who won in Qatar are now in their 30s, including Messi, who will be nearing 39 by the 2026 tournament. While some veterans like Messi, Otamendi, and goalkeeper Martinez remain, their ability to maintain peak performance over four years is questionable. Messi himself has expressed a desire not to be a burden, suggesting he might adapt to a different role.

This raises the question of whether a new generation of Argentine talent can adequately support Messi and the team. The article implies that relying solely on the established stars might not be enough, and a successful campaign in 2026 will depend on emerging players stepping up to fill the void left by departing veterans and to carry the weight of expectation.