Will Lionel Messi play for Argentina at the 2026 World Cup?

Lionel Messi efficaciously completed shot erstwhile helium led Argentina to the World Cup successful Qatar three-and-a-half years ago.

The Argentina fable scored 7 goals successful Argentina's unforgettable travel to glory, which culminated with a punishment shootout triumph implicit France successful the final.

After ending their 32-year hold for their 3rd World Cup triumph, La Albiceleste volition effort to go the archetypal state to clasp it since Brazil successful 1962 erstwhile they caput to North America this summer.  

Argentina volition commencement their defence successful Group J, wherever they volition vie with Algeria, Austria and Jordan.

The cardinal question is, volition Messi beryllium determination erstwhile Argentina footwear disconnected their run against Algeria connected June 16.

Here, Sports Mole provides the latest accusation astir whether the Inter Miami skipper volition diagnostic successful a sixth World Cup.

Will Messi play successful the 2026 World Cup?

Messi has played successful each of Argentina's past 4 matches, including his country's archetypal 2 fixtures successful 2026. 

The 38-year-old came disconnected the seat astatine fractional clip of a 2-1 victory implicit Mauritania, earlier helium recovered the nett successful a commanding 5-0 win against Zambia. 

However, helium is yet to pass a determination astir whether helium plans to play successful the World Cup, contempt admitting successful December that helium would "love to beryllium there".

Argentina caput manager Lionel Scaloni explained successful March that he volition bash "everything" to marque definite Messi is astatine the tournament.

That said, Scaloni insisted that Messi has "earned the right" to person the last accidental implicit his level of involvement. 

Messi has made a promising commencement to the 2026 play with Inter Miami, but helium indispensable see whether helium feels his assemblage tin header with the demands of playing tourney shot astatine this signifier of his career.

The erstwhile Barcelona guardant volition besides beryllium keen to marque a affirmative interaction successful what would beryllium his last World Cup appearance, truthful helium would request to see whether helium believes helium tin inactive execute and lend astatine the highest level. 

When volition Argentina sanction their World Cup squad?

While Argentina volition springiness Messi each the clip imaginable to marque his decision, the timepiece is ticking towards the archetypal FIFA squad deadline.

Argentina person until May 11 to taxable their preliminary database of betwixt 35 and 35 players, though determination is nary request to marque this archetypal enactment public.

Scaloni volition past request to taxable his last squad database to FIFA by May 30, which indispensable see 23 players and not transcend 26.