![Messi to Captain Argentina at Sixth FIFA World Cup Cup in 2026]](https://i2.wp.com/ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/branded_sport/1200/cpsprodpb/a488/live/99552cb0-5ae6-11f1-8924-c3e54586b926.jpg?ssl=1 "Messi to Captain Argentina at Sixth FIFA World Cup Cup in 2026]")
Messi to Captain Argentina at Sixth FIFA World Cup Cup in 2026]
Lionel Messi will lead Argentina into their sixth FIFA World Cup as captain when the team competes at the 2026 tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The 38-year-old forward, who guided his nation to World Cup victory in Qatar four years ago with a penalty shootout triumph over France, has been named in Lionel Scaloni’s 26-man squad.
Messi currently holds the record for most World Cup appearances by any player with 26 matches and will join Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, as the only male players to feature in six World Cup tournaments.
Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez of Aston Villa, who earned recognition as the tournament’s best goalkeeper in 2022, has been selected along with defenders Lisandro Martinez and Cristian Romero from Manchester United and Tottenham respectively.
Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister and Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez are among the five British-based players included in the squad for the upcoming tournament.
Argentina are drawn in Group J and will open their campaign in Kansas City against Algeria on June 17 before facing Austria on June 22 and Jordan on June 28, both matches taking place in Dallas.
Messi was substituted during Inter Miami’s most recent MLS match on Monday due to muscle fatigue in his left hamstring, though his club confirmed he sustained no injury.
The Argentina captain has earned 198 caps and will reach the 200 appearance milestone if he features in both upcoming friendly matches against Honduras on June 6 in Texas and Iceland three days later in Alabama.