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Messi Captains Argentina's World Cup Squad
29 May
Summary
- Lionel Messi will captain Argentina's record-breaking sixth World Cup squad.
- Real Madrid prospect Franco Mastantuono was notably excluded from the team.
- The World Cup kicks off June 11, with Argentina facing Algeria first.
Lionel Messi will captain Argentina's 26-man squad for a record-breaking sixth World Cup, confirmed national coach Lionel Scaloni. This announcement ends speculation about the superstar's participation in the upcoming global tournament.
The squad selection saw the exclusion of 18-year-old Franco Mastantuono, a highly-regarded prospect in Argentine football. Real Madrid's player was not named in the final roster.
The World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is set to commence on June 11. Argentina's first fixture will be on June 16 against Algeria in Kansas City.
Messi recently experienced muscle fatigue in his left hamstring, leading to concerns after his abrupt exit from an Inter Miami match. Coach Scaloni, however, had previously downplayed the injury's severity.
Defender Cristian Romero, who had been sidelined with a knee injury, has been included in the squad. This selection maintains 17 players from the 2022 World Cup-winning team.
Notable absentees also include Emiliano Buendia and Paulo Dybala. Argentina will play pre-World Cup friendlies against Honduras and Iceland before heading into a group stage that includes Austria and Jordan.
