Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has cast doubt on whether Lionel Messi will feature at the 2026 World Cup, as the defending champions prepare to defend their title in North America. The 38-year-old forward, who led Argentina to glory in Qatar in 2022, will turn 39 during this summer's tournament, raising questions about his long-term future with the national team.
Only two nations have ever won the World Cup twice in a row: Italy in 1934 and 1938, and Brazil in 1958 and 1962. Argentina will attempt to become the third when they kick off their campaign against Algeria. Scaloni's side have enjoyed sustained success, winning back-to-back Copa America titles in 2021 and 2024, and topping the Conmebol qualifiers with 38 points, including a 4-1 win over Brazil in March 2025.
The squad retains 17 members from the 2022 winning group, including Messi, Lautaro Martinez, Rodrigo de Paul, Enzo Fernandez and Julian Alvarez. New faces include Como forward Nico Paz and Chelsea's Valentin Barco. However, the loss of Angel Di Maria is significant, and the team has faced criticism for a run of friendlies against weaker opponents such as Puerto Rico, Angola and Mauritania.
Scaloni acknowledged the difficulty of repeating as champions, stating: 'Almost everything needs to go your way if you want to win one World Cup, let alone two in a row.' He added that while Messi remains the talisman, his participation in 2026 is not guaranteed, as the team looks to balance continuity with the need for renewal.
