Argentina's preliminary roster for the 2026 World Cup has been announced, featuring star players Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez, and Julian Alvarez, as confirmed by the Argentine Football Association on Monday. The roster includes 55 players, with Messi being one of the 10 members from the starting lineup that triumphed over France in the 2022 World Cup final.

Notable Absence

The only player from Argentina's victorious 2022 World Cup squad not included in the preliminary roster is winger Angel Di Maria, who retired in 2024. Alongside Messi, Martinez, and Alvarez, other prominent names on the list include Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister, Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez, Aston Villa's Emiliano Martinez, and Como's Nico Paz.

Argentina's World Cup Aspirations

Currently ranked No. 3 in the FIFA world rankings, Argentina is considered one of the top contenders for the upcoming World Cup, alongside No. 2 Spain, top-ranked France, No. 4 England, and No. 6 Brazil. Messi, who was awarded the Golden Ball for best player in the 2022 tournament, has made a record 26 World Cup appearances and scored 13 goals, placing him fourth on the all-time list.

Argentina is set to face No. 66 Honduras in a friendly match on June 6 in College Station, Texas, before beginning their World Cup campaign against No. 28 Algeria on June 16 in Kansas City, Missouri.