Despite several injury concerns, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed that most of the defending champions, including captain Lionel Messi, will join the squad aiming for a second straight title at the 2026 World Cup. Messi, nearing age 39, leads the 26-player roster released by the Argentine Football Association. Seventeen members of the group helped secure the previous victory over France in Qatar. Some players faced questions over fitness ahead of the June 1 FIFA deadline. Messi is dealing with muscle fatigue and a left hamstring issue that cut short his recent club match. His club noted recovery depends on clinical progress. He will appear in a sixth World Cup. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, recovering from a finger fracture, was also selected along with defender Cristian Romero and fullbacks Nahuel Molina and Gonzalo Montiel, all managing injuries. Argentina, champions in 1978 and 1986, opens against Algeria on June 16 in Group J with Austria and Jordan. The team travels to Kansas City on May 30 for friendlies against Honduras and Iceland.
