The Argentine National Team has officially unveiled its final 26-man roster for the 2026 World Cup, with headline stars Lionel Messi, Julián Álvarez, and Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez leading the lineup.
Read more: Argentina Announces Final 26-Man Squad for 2026 World CupThe announcement, made this Thursday, came with a notable surprise: Marcos Acuña has been omitted from the squad, with Facundo Medina called up in his place.
Head coach Lionel Scaloni has largely maintained the backbone of the squad that secured Argentina’s third World Cup title in Qatar 2022, with 17 players from that championship team returning for another campaign.
At the same time, Scaloni’s selection signals a generational evolution for La Albiceleste, as several emerging talents who have risen to prominence in recent years have been included. Among the promising newcomers are Nicolás Paz, Giuliano Simeone, and Valentín Barco—each eager to make their mark on football’s biggest stage.
Argentina’s 2026 World Cup Squad:
Goalkeepers:
- Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez (Aston Villa)
- Gerónimo Rulli (Olympique de Marseille)
- Juan Musso (Atlético de Madrid)
Defenders:
- Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique de Marseille)
- Nicolás Tagliafico (Olympique Lyonnais)
- Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate)
- Lisandro Martínez (Manchester United)
- Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur)
- Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica)
- Facundo Medina (Olympique de Marseille)
- Nahuel Molina (Atlético de Madrid)
Midfielders:
- Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors)
- Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami)
- Valentín Barco (Racing Strasbourg)
- Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis)
- Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen)
- Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool)
- Enzo Fernández (Chelsea)
Forwards:
- Julián Álvarez (Atlético de Madrid)
- Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
- Nico González (Atlético de Madrid)
- Thiago Almada (Atlético de Madrid)
- Giuliano Simeone (Atlético de Madrid)
- Nico Paz (Como)
- Juan Manuel López (Palmeiras)
- Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan)
Argentina’s blend of experienced champions and dynamic young talent sets the stage for an exciting campaign as the team looks to defend its title and claim a fourth star.
