Argentina has officially unveiled its preliminary 55-player roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and as expected, the squad is headlined by none other than Lionel Messi. The Argentine Football Association made the announcement on Monday, confirming that the legendary forward will be joined by fellow stars Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez as the team prepares to defend its title.
While the roster is packed with familiar faces, there's one notable absence: Angel Di Maria. The winger, who scored in the 2022 World Cup final against France, retired from international duty in 2024 and won't be making the trip to the 2026 tournament. But don't worry—Argentina's depth is on full display. Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister, Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez, Aston Villa's Emiliano Martinez, and Como's rising star Nico Paz are all in the mix, giving manager Lionel Scaloni plenty of options.
Ranked third in the FIFA world rankings, Argentina enters the tournament as one of the top five favorites. Spain leads the pack as the frontrunner, followed closely by France, England, and Brazil. But with Messi in the lineup, anything is possible.
Speaking of Messi, the 38-year-old is coming off a historic 2022 World Cup campaign where he claimed the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player. He scored seven goals—including two in the final—and added three assists. His 26 World Cup appearances are the most ever, and his 13 goals rank fourth all-time, just behind Miroslav Klose (16), Ronaldo (15), and Gerd Muller (14).
Argentina's young guns also shined in 2022. Enzo Fernandez took home the Young Player Award after contributing a goal and an assist, while goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez earned the Golden Glove as the tournament's top shot-stopper.
Before the World Cup kicks off, Argentina will face Honduras in a friendly on June 6 in College Station, Texas. Then, the real action begins: Argentina opens Group J play against Algeria on June 16 in Kansas City, Missouri. With a roster this deep and a legend like Messi leading the charge, the defending champions are ready to make another deep run.