BUENOS AIRES: Lionel Messi will captain Argentina at the World Cup, national coach Lionel Scaloni announced Thursday as he unveiled his 26-man squad.

Messi, 38, had not previously confirmed he would play in what will be a record-breaking sixth tournament for the Argentine superstar.

But it had been widely assumed the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner would again lead Argentina, four years after lifting the trophy in Qatar.

As well as confirming Messi’s presence, Thursday’s announcement notably excluded Real Madrid’s Franco Mastantuono from the Argentina squad.

Eighteen-year-old Mastantuono is considered one of the brightest prospects in Argentine football.

The largest ever World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, kicks off June 11.

Argentina’s first match will be five days later against Algeria in Kansas City.

Messi has been at the heart of an injury scare in recent days, with his club side Inter Miami this week saying medical tests diagnosed him with muscle fatigue in his left hamstring.

The Major League Soccer club had provided no clear timetable for Messi’s return after his abrupt exit from Miami’s 6-4 victory over Philadelphia in the 73rd minute on Sunday.

But Scaloni had played down the seriousness of the injury this week.

Center-back Cristian Romero, who suffered a knee injury last month and has not played since, was also named in the squad.

The Tottenham Hotspur captain was ruled out for the remainder of the Premier League season after he was shoved into his own goalkeeper by Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey.

Argentina’s roster retains 17 of the 26 players who won the title in Qatar.

Young players who received call-ups include 21-year-olds Nicolas Paz and Valentin Barco.

Palmeiras forward Jose Manuel Lopez, who only made his international debut last year, also features.

Other notable absentees include Emiliano Buendia -- currently in excellent form at Aston Villa -- and Roma star Paulo Dybala.

Squad: Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez, Geronimo Rulli, Juan Musso; Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel, Nahuel Molina, Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Otamendi, Leonardo Balerdi, Cristian Romero, Facundo Medina, Nicolas Tagliafico; Midfielders: Leandro Paredes, Rodrigo de Paul, Exequiel Palacios, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis MacAllister, Giovani Lo Celso, Valentin Barco; Forwards: Lionel Messi, Nicolas Paz, Thiago Almada, Nicolas Gonzalez , Julian Alvarez, Giuliano Simeone, Lautaro Martinez, Jose Manuel Lopez.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2026