Argentina World Cup Squad 2026: Full 26-Player Roster
The Argentina World Cup Squad 2026 has reached the quarterfinals as it chases back to back world titles. Lionel Scaloni’s 26 man roster swept Group J, edged Cape Verde 3 to 2 after extra time in the Round of 32, then stormed back from 2 to 0 down to beat Egypt 3 to 2 in the Round of 16. Captain Lionel Messi, now in a record sixth World Cup, next leads Argentina against Switzerland in Kansas City on July 11.
Scaloni kept the spine of his Qatar 2022 winners, retaining 17 champions while blending in fresh talent. The headline story is Messi, who has scored in every game. His strike against Egypt was his 21st in World Cup history, extending his own all time record, and his eight tournament goals now lead the Golden Boot race.
Below is the full squad list, the latest knockout results, the road ahead, and the key players driving Argentina’s title defence.
Argentina World Cup Squad 2026: Full 26 Player Roster
Players are grouped by position and listed by caps within each group. Caps and goals are official figures as of the start of the tournament.
| Position | Player | Club | Age | Caps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Emiliano Martínez | Aston Villa | 33 | 59 | 0 |
| GK | Gerónimo Rulli | Marseille | 34 | 7 | 0 |
| GK | Juan Musso | Atlético Madrid | 32 | 3 | 0 |
| DF | Nicolás Otamendi | Benfica | 38 | 130 | 8 |
| DF | Nicolás Tagliafico | Lyon | 33 | 75 | 1 |
| DF | Nahuel Molina | Atlético Madrid | 28 | 58 | 1 |
| DF | Cristian Romero | Tottenham Hotspur | 28 | 49 | 3 |
| DF | Gonzalo Montiel | River Plate | 29 | 38 | 2 |
| DF | Lisandro Martínez | Manchester United | 28 | 26 | 1 |
| DF | Facundo Medina | Marseille | 27 | 7 | 0 |
| DF | Marcos Senesi | Tottenham Hotspur | 29 | 3 | 0 |
| MF | Rodrigo De Paul | Inter Miami CF | 32 | 85 | 2 |
| MF | Leandro Paredes | Boca Juniors | 31 | 77 | 5 |
| MF | Giovani Lo Celso | Real Betis | 30 | 65 | 4 |
| MF | Alexis Mac Allister | Liverpool | 27 | 44 | 6 |
| MF | Enzo Fernández | Chelsea | 25 | 40 | 6 |
| MF | Exequiel Palacios | Bayer Leverkusen | 27 | 38 | 0 |
| MF | Valentín Barco | Strasbourg | 21 | 2 | 1 |
| FW | Lionel Messi (C) | Inter Miami CF | 38 | 198 | 116 |
| FW | Lautaro Martínez | Inter Milan | 28 | 75 | 36 |
| FW | Julián Álvarez | Atlético Madrid | 26 | 51 | 14 |
| FW | Nicolás González | Atlético Madrid | 28 | 50 | 6 |
| FW | Thiago Almada | Atlético Madrid | 25 | 14 | 4 |
| FW | Giuliano Simeone | Atlético Madrid | 23 | 11 | 1 |
| FW | Nico Paz | Como | 21 | 8 | 1 |
| FW | José Manuel López | Palmeiras | 25 | 3 | 0 |
(C) = captain. Squad as confirmed on May 28, 2026. Marcos Senesi replaced the injured Leonardo Balerdi before the opener.
For all 48 team announcement dates, see the World Cup 2026 squads list.
Quick Stats
Here are the key numbers behind Lionel Scaloni’s final 26.
- Captain: Lionel Messi, in his record sixth World Cup
- Qatar 2022 winners retained: 17 players
- All time World Cup top scorer: Lionel Messi (21 goals, a new record)
- National team records: Messi holds both most caps and most goals for Argentina
- Atlético Madrid players: 6 (Musso, Molina, Álvarez, Nico González, Almada, Simeone)
- Youngest players: Valentín Barco and Nico Paz (both 21)
- Oldest players: Lionel Messi (39) and Nicolás Otamendi (38)
- World Cup debutants: Musso, Barco, Facundo Medina, Senesi, Nico Paz, Simeone, Nico González, and José Manuel López
Key Players to Watch
Lionel Messi (Inter Miami). Messi turned 39 during the tournament and keeps delivering. He scored the equaliser and set up Cristian Romero in the 3 to 2 comeback win over Egypt, taking his career tally to 21 World Cup goals, an outright record. His eight goals lead the Golden Boot race.
Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan). The squad’s most reliable striker and top scorer at the 2024 Copa América. Lautaro gives Scaloni a clinical number nine and struck the extra time equaliser that turned the Cape Verde tie.
Julián Álvarez (Atlético Madrid). A Qatar 2022 hero who can play through the middle or off Messi. In form at club level, he offers Argentina a second forward capable of leading the line in the knockouts.
Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa). The goalkeeper who won the Golden Glove in 2022 and saved Argentina in two shootouts on the way to the title. Dibu remains one of the best keepers in the world and a genuine penalty specialist.
Enzo Fernández (Chelsea). Named Best Young Player at Qatar 2022. He struck the stoppage time winner against Egypt and anchors the midfield alongside Mac Allister and De Paul.
Nico Paz (Como). The 21 year old is the brightest of Argentina’s new generation. After a breakout season in Serie A, Paz gives Scaloni creativity off the bench behind Messi.
Argentina World Cup Squad 2026 Schedule and Results
Argentina won all three group games in the United States, then battled through two dramatic knockout ties. Here are the completed results.
| Date | Match | Result | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 16 | Argentina vs Algeria | Won 3 to 0 | Kansas City |
| June 22 | Argentina vs Austria | Won 2 to 0 | Arlington |
| June 27 | Argentina vs Jordan | Won 3 to 1 | Arlington |
| July 3 | Argentina vs Cape Verde (R32) | Won 3 to 2 (AET) | Miami Gardens |
| July 7 | Argentina vs Egypt (R16) | Won 3 to 2 | Atlanta |
Messi lit up the opener with a hat trick against Algeria and has carried Argentina through two tense knockout ties. After edging Cape Verde in extra time, the champions fell 2 to 0 behind against Egypt before roaring back through Cristian Romero, Messi, and a stoppage time winner from Enzo Fernández.
Next comes the quarterfinals. Argentina meet Switzerland, who knocked out Colombia on penalties to reach the last eight for the first time in over 70 years.
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Kickoff (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quarterfinal | Saturday, July 11 | Switzerland | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City | 9:00 PM |
Win in Kansas City and Argentina reach the semifinals. All kickoff times follow the official FIFA match schedule.
Group J Final Standings
Argentina cruised to the top of the group. Austria pipped Algeria to second on goal difference, and both went through, while debutants Jordan were eliminated.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Argentina | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | +7 | 9 |
| 2 | Austria | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 3 | Algeria | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | −1 | 4 |
| 4 | Jordan | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | −5 | 0 |
Algeria advanced as one of the best third placed teams. For full group breakdowns, see our Groups page.
How Argentina Qualified for World Cup 2026
Argentina qualified comfortably through the CONMEBOL South American round robin. Scaloni’s side topped the 10 team group and became the first nation to book a place, confirming qualification on March 25, 2025 with matches to spare.
Lautaro Martínez and Lionel Messi led the scoring through qualifying, with key wins over rivals home and away. The campaign showed the same control that defined the 2022 title run, and Argentina entered the tournament ranked number one in the world.
Head Coach: Lionel Scaloni
Lionel Scaloni, 48, has managed Argentina since 2018 and oversaw the most successful period in the nation’s modern history. He guided the team to the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 World Cup, and the 2024 Copa América.
Scaloni favours a flexible 4-3-3 that can shift to a back five against stronger sides. He built the team around Messi while developing a deep, balanced squad that can win in different ways. For 2026 he made hard calls, leaving out teenager Franco Mastantuono and 2022 winner Marcos Acuña, then lost defender Leonardo Balerdi to a pre tournament injury.
FAQ About Argentina World Cup Squad 2026
How did Argentina do in the World Cup 2026 group stage?
Argentina won all three Group J matches, beating Algeria 3 to 0, Austria 2 to 0, and Jordan 3 to 1. They finished top with a perfect nine points and a plus seven goal difference.
How did Argentina reach the World Cup 2026 quarterfinals?
After topping Group J, Argentina beat Cape Verde 3 to 2 after extra time in the Round of 32, then came from 2 to 0 down to defeat Egypt 3 to 2 in the Round of 16, with Enzo Fernández scoring in stoppage time.
Who does Argentina play next at the World Cup 2026?
Argentina face Switzerland in the quarterfinals on Saturday, July 11 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, kicking off at 9:00 PM ET. The winner reaches the semifinals.
Is Lionel Messi the all time World Cup top scorer?
Yes. Messi leads all players in World Cup history with 21 goals and tops the 2026 Golden Boot race with eight, including the equaliser in the comeback win over Egypt.
How many World Cups has Lionel Messi played in?
The 2026 World Cup is Messi’s sixth, a men’s record. He previously played in 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022, winning the title in Qatar. He is the first male player to appear in six World Cups.
Can Argentina defend their World Cup title?
No team has retained the World Cup since Brazil in 1962. Argentina are through to the quarterfinals and would make history by going back to back. Their knockout resilience and tournament experience give them a real chance.
What formation does Argentina play under Scaloni?
Scaloni usually sets up in a 4-3-3 that can drop into a back five against stronger opponents. The midfield trio of Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister, and Rodrigo De Paul is the engine behind the attack.
Argentina World Cup 2026 Hopes
The Argentina World Cup Squad 2026 has reached the quarterfinals the hard way, surviving Cape Verde in extra time and a two goal deficit against Egypt. A dominant group stage, a fit and record breaking Messi, and a deep supporting cast keep Scaloni’s side among the favourites.
The quarterfinal with Switzerland is the next test on a route that could lead all the way to the final. With Messi, Lautaro, and Álvarez firing and a proven coach in charge, the dream of back to back World Cup titles is very much alive.
