Number of past World Cup appearances: 18
Best Performance: Winner (1978, 1986, 2022)
First appearance: 1930 (Uruguay)
Top scorer: Lionel Messi (13)
Most games played: Lionel Messi (26)
Player to watch: Lionel Messi
FIFA World Ranking: 3rd place
Defending champion Argentina is aiming to become the first country to win back-to-back titles since Brazil in 1962.
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After Argentina defeated France in a stunning final at the 2022 Qatar Games, many thought it would be the crowning glory of Lionel Messi’s career and that he would retire from international football by 2026.
But the Inter Miami player, who will turn 39 during the tournament, continues to play and aims to repeat his feat in what will truly be his last World Cup in North America.
However, winning this tournament seems even more difficult than lifting the previous edition.
Messi is not only four years older and in relative decline. Other team members are also aging. And although Argentina has many promising young players, some have been left behind in the country.
How good is Messi?
If Messi can overcome a relatively minor hamstring injury, he will lead Argentina in the tournament’s opening match against Algeria on June 16.
Messi continues to score goals for Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami, but he is nowhere near the same momentum he had in the 2022 tournament. His playing time during the intense and long tournament will have to be managed carefully.
Messi’s main contribution may be more in terms of presence and aura than goals, but even though he has lost some power and speed over the age of 40, he remains a visionary player and a huge threat from set pieces.
Messi is likely to retire from the national team after the 2026 World Cup. He said the 3-0 win against Venezuela on September 4 would be his last international match for his home country.
“There are so many emotions. We went through so much on this field,” Messi said after the match at Estadio Mas Monumental in Buenos Aires.
“It’s always fun to play in Argentina with the people. We’ve enjoyed every game for years. I’m very happy. To be able to finish here like this is something I always dreamed of.”
experienced team
Argentina’s national team includes 17 of the 26 players who won the title in Qatar.
Even if Messi is relegated to a supporting role, Argentina has the experience and talent to win the World Cup. Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martínez remains an excellent centre-forward and is Serie A’s top scorer with 17 goals, while his potential strike partner, Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez, has been impressive this season.
The midfield is loaded with Premier League and La Liga quality, from the finesse and creativity of Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister, to the box-to-box dynamism and aggression of Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandes, to the versatile energy of Atleti’s Rodrigo de Paul.
The defense has tough tackling and durable centre-backs in Nicolas Otamendi and Christian Romero, but they can be a little rough around the edges and lack top-quality full-backs.
Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has an incredible penalty shootout history, which is always a plus at the World Cup.
new talent
What’s even more interesting is that a new generation of attacking talent is beginning to emerge.
Nico Paz has enjoyed a strong season in Serie A with Como, and highly anticipated attacking midfielder Valentin Barco, a versatile 21-year-old, has also been called up.
However, manager Lionel Scaloni surprised many by leaving out 18-year-old Franco Mastantuono, who has been excellent for Real Madrid this season. The left-footed attacking midfielder appears to have the speed and creativity to become a world-class player.
Chelsea’s electric (if inconsistent) winger Alejandro Garnacho also did not make the squad.
Stability under the Scaloni government
After a period led by impatient and impulsive managers, Argentina found stability and identity under Scaloni, who was appointed on an interim basis in 2018.
He uses the players at his disposal well and adapts as needed. He appears to have excellent people management skills and has built a consistent and tactically smart winning team, winning two Copa Americas and a World Cup title.
Argentina topped the qualifying group with a series of impressive performances, including defeating Brazil 4-1.
If Scaloni leads Argentina to back-to-back World Cup titles, he will become the first manager to do so since Italy’s Vittorio Pozzo in 1934 and 1938.
What does their group look like?
On paper, Group J looks relatively easy for Argentina. But they have probably been guilty of complacency at this stage before, losing to Saudi Arabia in the group stage in Qatar.
Algeria, ranked 28th in the world, will be the first test, but the Austrians, ranked 24th in the world, have no intention of giving up.
Jordan, playing in his first World Cup, are the underdogs in the group and if the first two go to plan, Scaloni may be tempted to rest some key players and older players for the final group game.
Argentina group stage matches and kick-off times
⚽ June 16: Argentina vs. Algeria (Kansas City, Missouri), 9:00 PM ET (June 17, 01:00 GMT)
⚽ June 22: Argentina vs. Austria (Arlington, Texas), 1:00 PM ET (17:00 GMT)
⚽ June 27: Jordan vs. Argentina (Arlington, Texas), 10:00 PM ET (June 28, 02:00 GMT)
Al Jazeera predictions
Semi-finals.
Their quality and cunning will be more than enough to take them to the end, with or without a fully-fledged Messi. But countries like Spain and France may now be too good.
full team
Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Geronimo Rulli (Marseille), Juan Musso (Atletico Madrid)
Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel (Riber Plate), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid), Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique de Marseille), Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur), Facundo Medina (Marseille), Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon)
Midfielders: Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors), Rodrigo de Paul (Inter Miami), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Enzo Fernandes (Chelsea), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis), Valentin Barco (Strasbourg)
Forwards: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Nicolas Paz (Como), Thiago Almada (Atletico Madrid), Nicolas González (Atletico Madrid), Julián Álvarez (Atletico Madrid), Giuliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan), Jose Manuel López (Palmeiras).
The FIFA World Cup begins on June 11th. Check out Al Jazeera’s dedicated 2026 World Cup page for all the latest news, fixtures and live text commentary, and stay up to date with group standings, real-time results and schedules.
