Lionel Messi has returned to Argentina following a muscle injury, ready to join the squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Argentina is set to face Venezuela and Ecuador. The 31-player squad, announced on August 18, includes Messi and several promising young talents.
The squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers features a mix of experienced players and strong young talents. Notable additions include Claudio Echeverri from Manchester City, Alan Varela from Porto, and Franco Mastantuono, who recently joined Real Madrid. Coach Lionel Scaloni also called up José Manuel López from Brazilian club Palmeiras for his first national team call-up.
Messi recently returned to training with Inter Miami after his muscle injury and played for the club last week, helping them secure a 3-1 victory over LA Galaxy. The 38-year-old captain had previously missed Argentina’s matches against Colombia in June due to similar injuries.
Argentina’s upcoming fixtures include a match against Venezuela at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires on September 4, followed by a game against Ecuador in Guayaquil five days later. Argentina has already secured a spot for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The full squad for Argentina’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers includes:
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.
