Star forward Lionel Messi has rejoined the Argentina national squad in his home country, preparing for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. His return comes after a period of recovery from a muscle injury, making him available for the crucial South American clashes against Venezuela and Ecuador.
A formidable 31-player squad has been assembled by Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, featuring a blend of experienced veterans like Messi and several promising young talents. These new additions include Manchester City’s exciting midfielder Claudio Echeverri, Porto’s dynamic Alan Varela, and Franco Mastantuono, who recently completed a move to Real Madrid. Brazilian Palmeiras forward Jose Manuel Lopez has also earned his first national team call-up, highlighting Scaloni’s focus on integrating future talent into the squad.
Messi’s inclusion follows his recent successful return to training and match play with Inter Miami. The Argentine captain played a pivotal role last week, helping his club secure a decisive 3-1 victory against LA Galaxy in a top-tier US league match. This recent activity indicates his full recovery from the muscle issue that had previously sidelined him. Earlier in June, the 38-year-old had missed national team fixtures against Colombia due to a similar injury, underscoring the importance of his current fitness ahead of these qualifiers.
Notably, the squad sees some adjustments in its composition. Marcos Acuna has been called up to the national selection.
Argentina is set to face Venezuela on September 4 at the iconic Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires. Five days later, they will travel to Guayaquil to take on Ecuador. As reigning World Cup champions, Argentina is a strong contender to secure their qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The complete list of players summoned for Argentina’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches in South America is as follows:
Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez, Walter Benitez, Geronimo Rulli
Defenders: Cristian Romero, Nicolas Otamendi, Nahuel Molina, Gonzalo Montiel, Leonardo Balerdi, Juan Foyth, Nicolas Tagliafico, Marcos Acuna, Julio Soler, Facundo Medina
Midfielders: Alexis Mac Allister, Exequiel Palacios, Alan Varela, Leandro Paredes, Thiago Almada, Nicolas Paz, Rodrigo de Paul, Giovani Lo Celso, Valentin Carboni
Forwards: Claudio Echeverri, Franco Mastantuono, Giuliano Simeone, Angel Correa, Julián Alvarez, Nicolas Gonzalez, Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez, Jose Manuel Lopez.
