Lionel Messi's presence at the FIFA World Cup has been the burning question on every fan's lips for months. Now, Argentina may have just given us the answer we've all been waiting for.

The legendary forward has been named in Lionel Scaloni's preliminary 55-man squad for the 2026 tournament, signaling that the reigning champions are keeping their talisman firmly in their plans. But at 38 years old, Messi has yet to give a definitive "yes" to his World Cup participation.

Scaloni's roster includes 16 forwards, with Messi headlining the list alongside Gianluca Prestianni, who faces a six-match ban that could sideline him for Argentina's opening two group games. The squad announcement comes as the football world holds its breath over the GOAT's next move.

Messi has been dropping hints that the curtain may be closing on his international career. "I'm conscious that I'm playing my final matches, and I'm enjoying them to the maximum," he revealed after an Inter Miami match in June. "I'm sure that you're watching my final moments in football's elite."

Yet, he hasn't closed the door on La Albiceleste just yet. While injuries kept him out of Argentina's recent qualifiers, Scaloni remained calm, saying there was "plenty of time" to decide Messi's future. This squad list might just be the confirmation fans needed.

His teammates have been loud and clear about wanting him on the pitch. "With Messi, we might have scored two or three more goals," Julian Alvarez said after Argentina's emphatic 4-1 win over Brazil. Rodrigo de Paul summed it up perfectly: "The best of our teams is always when the number 10 is playing because he is the greatest of all time."

Messi's last World Cup campaign was nothing short of magical, scoring seven goals as Argentina ended their 36-year drought in Qatar 2022. Now, with the tournament kicking off on June 11, the world waits to see if football's greatest story gets one more chapter.