Argentina don enter 2026 FIFA World Cup as defending champions, and dem dey try to do wetin no country don do since 1962 – win back-to-back World Cup. After dem win for Qatar in 2022, plus Copa America for 2021 and 2024, Argentina don finish their last three tournaments with trophy.
Enzo Fernandez, Chelsea midfielder, get impressive record for international tournaments. He make Argentina debut small before 2022 World Cup, play key role for their triumph, and follow am by being important part of midfield for 2024 Copa America final against Colombia. That give Fernandez 100 per cent success rate for major tournaments.
Argentina squad include many players from 2022, like legendary captain Lionel Messi. Messi, wey previously claim Qatar go be his last World Cup, don change mind and continue. New faces like Valentin Barco (Strasbourg), Jose Manuel Lopez (Palmeiras), and Nicolas Paz (Como) join after breakthrough campaigns.
Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Juan Musso (Atletico Madrid), Geronimo Rulli (Marseille). Defenders: Leonardo Balerdi (Marseille), Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United), Facundo Medina (Marseille), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid), Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur), Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon). Midfielders: Valentin Barco (Strasbourg), Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea), Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors). Forwards: Thiago Almada (Atletico Madrid), Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid), Nicolas Gonzalez (Atletico Madrid), Jose Manuel Lopez (Palmeiras), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Nicolas Paz (Como), Giuliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid).
Argentina dey Group J with Algeria, Austria, and World Cup debutant Jordan. Argentina go play Algeria for Kansas City on Wednesday 17 June, Austria for Dallas on Monday 22 June, and Jordan for Dallas on Sunday 28 June.
Argentina qualify for World Cup with five games to spare, including 4-1 win over Brazil. Dem finish nine points clear of second-placed Ecuador. In 2022, Argentina defeat France on penalties for epic final to lift trophy third time for their history. First win for 1978 on home soil, second for 1986 for Mexico with Diego Maradona.
But Argentina get bitter memories of 1994, the last time United States host World Cup. After second group stage match, Diego Maradona expelled due to positive doping test. Maradona never play another World Cup match, and Argentina eliminated for round of 16.
Messi, wey dey play his record sixth World Cup, dey recover from hamstring problem wey cause substitution during Inter Miami final match before tournament. He work out on his own for team base camp for Kansas City. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni tell DSports: “We all would like Messi to arrive without any problems, but that’s not the case. Not only him, most of the players aren’t fully recovered yet.”
Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, hero of two penalty shootouts for 2022 final against France, suffer fracture to ring finger of right hand during Europa League final for Aston Villa. Defender Cristian Romero dey recover from knee injury wey he pick for mid-April for Tottenham. Right backs Nahuel Molina and Gonzalo Montiel dey deal with muscle injuries, same as midfielder Leandro Paredes.
Scaloni dey rely on 17 of 26 players wey win World Cup for 2022, even though some no dey peak condition. He say: “Why change them if they don’t deserve that? We’ve always been honest with them. The players who are here today have shown us they want to be here. And secondly, their level hasn’t dropped.”
Argentina win Copa America for 2024 and finish top of South American World Cup qualifying group. Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez key to attack, while Barcelona, Arsenal, and PSG reportedly vying for his signature. Coach bring in three debutants: midfielder Valentin Barco, wey sign for Chelsea, and forwards Nicolas Paz from Como, and Juan Manuel Lopez, top scorer for Palmeiras.
Notable absence na Angel Di Maria, wey retire from national team for 2024. He and Messi instrumental for Argentina success for Qatar. Scaloni say: “It’s impossible to fill Di Maria’s shoes. He and Messi are irreplaceable.”
Messi try lower expectations of another World Cup title: “We have to get excited, like Argentines always do, but we also have to know that there are other favorites ahead of us who are in better form.” He hold record for most World Cup matches (26) and need four more goals to surpass Miroslav Klose record of 16 World Cup goals.
Messi drop hint about retirement when he talk about qualifying match against Venezuela for Buenos Aires as his last competitive home game for Argentina. He say: “It was very emotional, knowing this was my last competitive match here.” Scaloni, like most Argentines, get emotional when thinking about national team without Messi. He tell CONMEBOL: “I like to think he’s going to keep playing because otherwise you get sad, like what happened with Diego (Maradona). They are players who have made history in football and thinking that they won’t play anymore doesn’t leave you at peace. I prefer to think about the present.”
