1 of 5 | Lionel Messi is among 10 of the 11 players from Argentina’s 2022 World Cup final starting lineup named to a preliminary roster for the 2026 World Cup. File Photo by Chris Brunskill/UPI | License Photo
Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez lead Argentina’s preliminary 55-player roster for the 2026 World Cup, the Argentine Football Association announced Monday.
Winger Angel Di Maria, who retired in 2024, is the only player who was in Argentina’s starting lineup for their win over France in the 2022 World Cup final and is not on the roster for the 2026 edition of the tournament.
Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister, Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez, Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez and Como’s Nico Paz join Messi, Martinez and Alvarez as other notable players included on the preliminary roster. The full roster can be seen here.
The Argentines, who rank No. 3 team in the FIFA world rankings, are among the Top 5 favorites to win the World Cup. No. 2 Spain is the favorite for the title. Top-ranked France, No. 4 England and No. 6 Brazil are among the other Top 5 expended contenders.
Messi, 38, was named the Golden Ball winner — given to the best player — at the 2022 World Cup. He totaled seven goals, including two in the final. He also logged three assists, which tied for the most in the tournament. France’s Kylian Mbappe scored a tournament-high eight goals, including three in the final, to earn Golden Boot honors.
Messi’s 26 World Cup appearances are the most in history. His 13 World Cup goals are tied with Just Fontaine for fourth-most, trailing only Miroslav Klose (16), Ronaldo (15) and Gerd Muller (14).
Fernandez, who logged a goal and assist, was named Young Player Award winner. Emiliano Martinez won Golden Glove honors as the tournament’s top goalkeeper.
Argentina will take on No. 66 Honduras in a friendly on June 6 in College Station, Texas. The Argentines will battle No. 28 Algeria in their Group J opener at the 2026 World Cup on June 16 in Kansas City, Mo.
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Lionel Messi of Argentina celebrates with the FIFA World Cup trophy after Argentina’s 2022 FIFA World Cup Final win — its third tournament trophy — at Lusail Stadium in Lusail City, Qatar, on December 18, 2022. Photo by Chris Brunskill/UPI | License Photo
