Messi in, Mastanuono out – Argentina confirms 26-man squad for World Cup 2026

Lionel Messi will captain Argentina at the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, national coach Lionel Scaloni announced Thursday as he confirmed his 26-man squad for the tournament.

Messi, 38, heads the Albiceleste’s list, which notably omits Real Madrid wonderkid Franco Mastantuono – the sole major shock from a squad with few surprises.

Other notable absences include Emiliano Buendía, who has been in fine form for his club side Aston Villa of late, and Paulo Dybala, who has lost his place in the national team set-up.

Youngsters Nicolás Paz and Valentín Barco, both aged 21, are the freshest additions to the squad. 

The biggest ‘unknown’ is Palmeiras striker José Manuel ‘Flaco’ López, who is inexperienced at international level but has impressed Scaloni during recent call-ups.

The inclusion of Atlético Madrid forwards Giuliano Simeone and Nicolás González is also a change from four years ago.

Defenders Leonardo Balerdi and Facundo Medina, as well as goalkeeper Juan Musso, will also enjoy their first World Cup.

Messi fitness fears

This will be Messi's sixth and last appearance at a World Cup. The Rosario-born star will see him lead Argentina's defence of the title they won in Qatar four years ago.

The Albiceleste, currently ranked third in FIFA’s world rankings behind France and Spain,  will be seeking their fourth World Cup crown and are viewed as one of the favourites for the title.

Argentina’s pre-tournament training camp begins on June 1 and the team, at least for the first stage of the World Cup, will be based in Kansas City.

Earlier this week, Scaloni played down fears that Messi could miss the tournament after the superstar suffered an injury while playing for his club side.

Messi has been diagnosed with muscle fatigue in his left hamstring by his Major League Soccer side Inter Miami after he made an abrupt exit during Miami's 6-4 victory over Philadelphia two weekends ago.

Speaking in an interview this week, Scaloni said Messi's fitness "is not that bad." 

"Obviously we would have preferred that nothing had happened," Scaloni told local TV station DSports on Tuesday. "Now one has to wait and see how it evolves and above all the new tests they are going to conduct in order to see if it confirms their original diagnosis."

Mastantuono cut

News of Mastantuono’s omission was first reported by journalist Gastón Edul via his X account. In a short video, the reporter – who closely follows the day-to-day activities of the Albiceleste and its stars – confirmed the youngster had not made the cut. 

“Franco Mastantuono is not going to the World Cup with the Argentina national team. The squad list will be released in the next few hours, probably tomorrow, and the Real Madrid player will not be included,” Edul stated.

Several local media outlets followed suit soon after, confirming the news that one of Argentina’s brightest prospects would miss the tournament. 

Scaloni last month named 55 players to a “long list” of potential inclusions, which he has to cut to a final list of 26 by the end of the month.

Argentina will begin their World Cup campaign against Algeria on June 16 in Kansas City. The side then plays against Austria in Arlington, Texas, on June 22, before closing out their Group J campaign against Jordan, again in Arlington.

Before then, the Albiceleste will play warm-up friendlies against Honduras in Texas on June 6 and Iceland in Alabama three days later.

Scaloni revealed this week that he plans to call up extra players for the friendly matches and training, allowing extra cover in case “something happens” to any of the final 26-man squad.

Among those carrying injuries are Tottenham Hotspur defender Cristian Romero, who is expected to arrive short of match fitness after a strain to the collateral ligament in his right knee, as well as full-backs Nahuel Molina and Gonzalo Montiel, who have both been sidelined recently with muscle tears.

Scaloni has until June 1 to submit his final squad list for the tournament. The youngsters included in the travelling party who are not on the final list include Hamburg SV midfielder Nicolás Capaldo and young Boca Juniors star Tomás Aranda, who will join the national squad for the first time. 

Nineteen-year-old River Plate forward Joaquín Freitas has also been rewarded for his breakthrough season in the top flight, as has his teammate, goalkeeper Santiago Beltrán, who had already been named on Scaloni's preliminary shortlist. 

Scaloni has also decided to reward the performances of two other domestic talents: Ignacio Ovando, the lively winger from Rosario Central, and Simón Escobar, the driving force in Vélez Sarsfield’s midfield, and may summon them to the training camp.

Who made Scaloni’s squad? 

The 26 players who will defend Argentina’s world title in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Goalkeepers
– Emiliano ‘Dibu’ Martínez (Aston Villa, England)
– Gerónimo Rulli (Olympique Marseille, France)
– Juan Musso (Atlético Madrid, Spain)

Defenders
– Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate, Argentina)
– Nahuel Molina (Atlético Madrid, Spain)
– Lisandro Martínez (Manchester United, England)
– Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica, Portugal)
– Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique Marseille, France)
– Cristian ‘Cuti’ Romero (Tottenham Hotspur, England)
– Nicolás Tagliafico (Olympique Lyonnais, France)
– Facundo Medina (Olympique Marseille, France)

Midfielders
– Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis, Spain)
– Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors, Argentina)
– Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami, USA)
– Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)
– Enzo Fernández (Chelsea, England)
– Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool, England)
– Valentín Barco (Racing Strasbourg, France)

Forwards
– Lionel Messi (Inter Miami, USA)
– Nicolás González (Atlético Madrid, Spain)
– Giuliano Simeone (Atlético Madrid, Spain)
– Lautaro Martínez (Internazionale Milano, Italy)
– José Manuel ‘Flaco’ López (Palmeiras, Brazil)
– Julián Álvarez (Atlético Madrid, Spain)
– Thiago Almada (Olympique Lyonnais, France)
– Nico Paz (Como 1907, Italy)

– TIMES/AFP/NA