Messi officially to participate in the 2026 World Cup.

On the morning of May 29th, coach Lionel Scaloni officially announced the 26-player squad for the Argentina national team participating in the 2026 World Cup. At 38 years old, Messi still holds the leading role for "La Albiceleste". This will be his sixth appearance in the tournament. Upon stepping onto the field at the 2026 World Cup, Messi will become the player with the most appearances in World Cup finals in history.

The Inter Miami superstar is expected to lead the national team into the tournament in the US, Mexico, and Canada with the goal of successfully defending the title won in Qatar four years ago. However, Messi's current physical condition is causing concern among the coaching staff and Argentinian fans.

Just two weeks before the World Cup began, the striker unexpectedly suffered an injury. He left the field in the 73rd minute of Inter Miami's 6-4 victory over Philadelphia Union in the MLS.

Messi holds the record for the most World Cup appearances. (Source: AP)

Following the match, Inter Miami confirmed their captain suffered a muscle strain related to the hamstring in his left leg. Coach Scaloni stated that initial assessments indicated Messi's injury was not too serious. "The initial updates weren't entirely negative. Now we have to wait and see how he recovers and wait for further test results to confirm the initial medical report," he said.

However, coach Scaloni also admitted that Messi would not be in peak physical condition when he joins the national team. "We all hoped Messi could join the team in perfect condition, but that's not the reality," he added.

Messi completed his career trophy collection when he led Argentina to victory in the 2022 World Cup. This success extended his legacy, replicating the feat Diego Maradona achieved for Argentinian football at the 1986 World Cup.

After winning the championship in Qatar, Messi moved to the United States to play for Inter Miami. He quickly became a key player in the team's development, contributing to their MLS Cup victory last season.

Prior to that, Messi had successful spells at Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona. He became an icon of the "Catalan giants" with a string of major titles, including four Champions League titles.

In the squad for the 2026 World Cup, there are 17 players who were part of the winning team in Qatar. Alongside Messi, experienced key players such as goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and striker Lautaro Martinez continue to receive the trust of coach Scaloni in Argentina's quest to defend their title.

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/messi-chinh-thuc-tham-du-world-cup-2026-ar1020592.html