Messi named in Argentina 2026 World Cup squad despite hamstring concern

BUENOS AIRES (AP) — Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has moved to settle concerns over a string of fitness problems, naming captain Lionel Messi among the players who will defend the country’s World Cup crown in 2026.

Messi, who is nearing his 39th birthday, is the biggest name in the 26-player list released Thursday by the Argentine Football Association. Seventeen members of the squad were involved when Argentina defeated France in the Qatar final four years ago.

The announcement came with several leading players still working through injuries ahead of FIFA’s June 1 deadline for final World Cup rosters. Messi is among them after muscle fatigue and a strained left hamstring forced him out before the end of Inter Miami’s match last Sunday.

Inter Miami has said the timetable for his return will be guided by his clinical and functional progress. The tournament would be Messi’s sixth World Cup, following appearances in Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022.

Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez was also selected after fracturing the ring finger on his right hand during last week’s Europa League final, when Aston Villa beat Freiburg.

Scaloni further named defender Cristian Romero, who has been recovering from a sprained collateral ligament in his right knee sustained with Tottenham in mid-April. Fullbacks Nahuel Molina and Gonzalo Montiel, who converted key penalties in the 2022 shootout victory over France, were also included while dealing with muscle issues.

Argentina, World Cup winners in 1978, 1986 and 2022, will open their campaign on June 16 against Algeria in Group J, where Austria and Jordan are also drawn.

The team is scheduled to leave Saturday for its World Cup base in Kansas City. Before the tournament begins, Argentina will play warm-up matches against Honduras and Iceland.