Star Lionel Messi has been named among 55 players in Argentina’s extended squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada between June 11 and July 19, international news agencies report.
The 38-year-old veteran leads an attack that also includes Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan), Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid) and Santiago Castro (Bologna).
The list announced by coach Lionel Scaloni also includes several debutants, such as defenders Lautaro Di Lollo (Boca Juniors), Zaid Romero (Getafe), goalkeeper Santiago Beltran (River Plate) and Castro.
It is worth mentioning the presence of Gianluca Prestianni (Benfica), a player suspended at international level for insulting the Brazilian Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid), in a Champions League match. Also present are brothers Alexis and Kevin MacAllister.
Players such as strikers Valentin Castellanos (West Ham) and Paulo Dybala (AS Roma) are not part of this batch.
FIFA has set June 2 as the deadline for announcing the final squads.
Argentina will make their final tournament debut on June 16 against Algeria in Group J, before facing Austria and Jordan.
Expanded Argentina squad:
Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa/England), Geronimo Rulli (Olympique Marseille/France), Juan Musso (Atletico Madrid/Spain), Walter Benitez (Crystal Palace/England), Facundo Cambeses (Racing Club), Santiago Beltran (River Plate);
Defenders: Agustin Giay (Palmeiras/Brazil), Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate), Nahuel Molina (Atlético Madrid/Spain), Nicolas Capaldo (Hamburger SV/Germany), Kevin Mac Allister (Union Saint-Gilloise/Belgium), Lucas Martinez Quarta (River Plate), Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth/England), Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United/England), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica/Portugal), German Pezzella (River Plate), Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique Marseille/France), Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur/England), Lautaro Di Lollo (Boca Juniors), Zaid Romero (Getafe/Spain), Facundo Medina (Olympique Marseille/France), Marcos Acuna (River Plate), Nicolas Tagliafico (Olympique Lyon/France), Gabriel Rojas (Racing Club);
Midfielders: Maximo Perrone (Como/Italy), Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors), Guido Rodriguez (Valencia/Spain), Anibal Moreno (River Plate), Milton Delgado (Boca Juniors), Alan Varela (FC Porto/Portugal), Ezequiel Fernandez (Bayer Leverkusen/Germany), Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami/USA), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen/Germany), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea/England), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool/England), Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis Sevilla/Spain), Nicolas Dominguez (Nottingham Forest/England), Emiliano Buendia (Aston Villa/England), Valentin Barco (Strasbourg/France), Thiago Almada (Atletico Madrid/Spain), Giuliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid/Spain), Matias Soule (AS Roma/Italy), Gianluca Prestianni (Benfica/Portugal), Tomas Aranda (Boca Juniors), Nicolas Gonzalez (Atlético Madrid/Spain), Nicolas Paz (Como/Italy), Franco Mastantuono (Real Madrid/Spain);
Forwards: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami/USA), Claudio Echeverri (Girona/Spain), Alejandro Garnacho (Chelsea/England), Santiago Castro (Bologna/Italy), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan/Italy), Jose Manuel Lopez (Palmeiras/Brazil), Julian Alvarez (Atlético Madrid/Spain), Mateo Pellegrino (Parma/Italy).
