[Team Focus] 38-Year-Old Messi and the Uncertain "Last Tango": Argentina's Road to Retaining the Title, Captain Still Hesitant

With only 52 days left until the opening of the 2026 FIFA World Cup™, whether Lionel Messi, the “star player” of the defending champion Argentina team, will appear on the tournament roster remains an officially unanswered question.

This isn’t a question of the team’s form, nor is it a question of the coach’s tactics; it’s a choice Messi himself has made to “wait until the very end.”

I. The Coach Made It Clear: The Decision Lies with Messi

According to reports from multiple authoritative media outlets, including ESPN and Sky Sports, Argentina’s head coach, Lionel Scaloni, was repeatedly asked about Messi’s future at press conferences before and after the March international break. His response was very frank—this matter “is entirely up to Messi himself.”

Scaloni stated that as coach, he would do everything possible to include Messi in the squad, saying, “For the sake of football itself, he should be there,” but ultimately it depends on Messi’s own willingness, mentality, and physical condition. He also clearly stated that if Messi decides to play, both sides will sit down and talk – “What he wants and what we want are the same thing.”

II. Messi on the Field: Still in Form

From a data perspective, “form issues” are not the main reason for Messi’s delayed decision.

During the March international break, Argentina played two friendly matches against Mauritania and Zambia, winning both. In the 5-0 victory over Zambia, Messi scored and assisted. According to statistics from Sports Illustrated and other media outlets, since the start of Inter Miami’s new season in February 2026, Messi has made 6 appearances for the club, playing the full 90 minutes in every match, only being rested once due to rotation.

In other words—Messi, at 38 (and nearly 39 when the World Cup starts), remains the most reliable core player for that team.

III. More Clues Hidden in the “Unofficially Announced” Details

According to a report by Fernando Czycz of the Argentine media outlet Doble Amarilla, Messi will participate in the World Cup, but the official confirmation is that “we’ll have to wait a little longer.” A detail noted by several European and American media outlets is that Messi did not give any media interviews during the March international break, and in what could be his “last time wearing the national team jersey on Argentine soil,” he appeared emotionally expressive.

Furthermore, according to several foreign media reports, Messi has already prepared new boots for the 2026 World Cup, which have been given a meaningful name—“The Last Tango”.

These details, taken together, almost answer the question fans care about most: He will come, but he wants to personally choose the moment of the announcement.

IV. The Title Defending Journey Begins on June 16th: Three Opponents in Group J

Regardless of when the official announcement date arrives, Scaloni has already outlined Argentina’s World Cup start.

According to the official FIFA schedule, Argentina is placed in Group J, with the following opponents:

• Algeria (First match June 16th, at Arrohead Stadium, Kansas City)

• Austria (Second match June 22nd, at AT&T Stadium, Dallas)

• Jordan (Final match June 27th, at AT&T Stadium, Dallas)

This group is widely regarded by Argentine media as a “friendly start”: Algeria missed the last World Cup, Austria returns after several absences, and Jordan is one of the teams making their World Cup debut. For the defending champions, this is a manageable start.

Lionel Scaloni has announced a 30-man squad for the friendly matches, including 16 key players from the 2022 World Cup-winning team, and for the first time calling up defender Tomás Palacios and Benfica striker Gianluca Prestianni, both without international caps. Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez – the penalty shootout hero of the 2022 final – remains the undisputed number one.

V. A Defending Champions Lineup Amidst Regret and Suspense

It’s worth noting that Argentina’s World Cup squad faces some unavoidable losses:

• Ángel Di María announced his retirement from the national team after winning the 2024 Copa America and will not participate in this World Cup;

• Giovani Lo Celso has been confirmed to be out of action due to a torn right quadriceps muscle;

• Joaquín Panichelli is also likely to miss the tournament due to a serious knee injury.

The good news is that the core of the championship-winning squad, including Julian Álvarez, Lautaro Martinez, McAllister, Enzo Fernandez, and De Paul, are all included. Lautaro Martinez of Inter Milan has been a major weapon this past season—he scored the winning goal in the 2024 Copa America final as the Golden Boot winner.

VI. A Side Topic Regarding the “Six-Time Veteran”

It’s worth mentioning that if Messi ultimately participates, he will achieve the unprecedented feat of participating in his sixth World Cup – tying with his old rival Cristiano Ronaldo. Both debuted at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, and both have already secured their places in this World Cup (Portugal has advanced to Group K). This would be the first time in football history that two superstars have simultaneously achieved the “six-time veteran” milestone.

VII. How Long Will the Suspense Last?

According to FIFA rules, each participating team’s official 23-man roster or expanded version must be submitted by the deadline before the opening ceremony. This means Messi’s “official announcement” won’t be much later than the end of May.

Until then, he will continue playing for Inter Miami, continuing to answer all doubts about his physical condition with goals and assists. And the door Scaloni left for him remains open.

For football fans worldwide, of all the possible uncertainties surrounding the 2026 USA-Mexico World Cup, whether Messi can personally complete his “final tango” is almost certainly the most captivating.

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Source: ESPN official interview, Sky Sports team updates, Sports Illustrated analysis, reports from Argentine journalist Doble Amarilla, Goal.com squad overview, beIN SPORTS schedule report, FIFA official Group J schedule announcement.