Lionel Messi will play in a sixth World Cup as he captains holders Argentina on the 2026 event.
The 38-year-old ahead, who led his nation to a 3rd World Cup triumph in Qatar with a penalty shootout victory over France 4 years in the past, was named in Lionel Scaloni’s 26-man squad on Thursday.
With 26 appearances, Messi holds the present report for essentially the most World Cup matches by any participant – and can be a part of Portugal ahead Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, as the one male gamers to look in a sixth version of soccer’s largest occasion this summer time.
Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez, who was named the goalkeeper of the event in 2022, has been chosen, as have defenders Lisandro Martinez and Cristian Romero from Manchester United and Tottenham respectively.
Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister and Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez are additionally among the many 5 British-based gamers within the squad for the finals, which shall be held in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
Argentina are in Group J and start their marketing campaign in Kansas Metropolis towards Algeria (Wednesday, 17 June, 02:00 BST), earlier than they play two video games in Dallas, towards Austria (Monday, 22 June, 18:00 BST) and Jordan (Sunday, 28 June, 02:00 BST).
Messi had been substituted throughout Inter Miami’s newest Main League Soccer match on Monday, however his membership stated he had not sustained an damage and was affected by “muscle fatigue” in his left hamstring.
He has made 198 appearances for Argentina and can attain the 200-mark if he performs in each of his nation’s pleasant matches – towards Honduras in Texas (Sunday, 7 June, 01:00 BST) after which towards Iceland in Alabama (Tuesday, 9 June).
