The question isn’t whether Argentina can win the 2026 World Cup. Every outlet from ESPN to Sports Illustrated is fixated on something bigger: can Lionel Messi — 38 years old, winner of everything — physically sustain one more tournament? Scaloni’s answer is consistent: as long as Messi wants in, he’s in. The entire squad architecture is built around giving him the freedom to shine when it matters most.
The Certainties: No Debate Required
Scaloni doesn’t have selection headaches for roughly half his squad. These players are going to North America:
Goalkeeper: Emiliano Martínez is the undisputed starter. His World Cup 2022 penalty heroics cemented a legacy that grows with each tournament. Armani and Rulli compete for the backup spots.
Defence: Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martínez are the first-choice centre-back pair — aggression and reading of the game from Romero, aerial dominance and clean passing from Lisandro. Nahuel Molina holds the right back slot; Nicolás Tagliafico the left, though Valentín Barco is pushing hard.
Midfield: The Enzo Fernández – Alexis Mac Allister – Rodrigo De Paul engine room drove Qatar 2022 and Copa América 2024. All three return. Enzo has grown into a genuine holding midfielder at Chelsea, freeing Mac Allister to arrive late into the box more often.
Attack: Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez are untouchable. Álvarez, now forged under Simeone at Atlético Madrid, adds defensive work rate that makes him nearly undroppable. And Messi.
The Messi Angle: Farewell Nobody Wants to Face
Messi turns 38 during the tournament. His performances in South American qualifying showed he can still decide games with goals and assists at key moments — but minute management is now critical.
Scaloni no longer asks Messi to press high. He operates as a free-roaming number 10, dropping into midfield when needed but spared the physical demands of Qatar. The system is built to protect him: wide fullbacks create width so the interior channels where Messi is devastating stay open.
There is also an emotional dimension that goes beyond tactics. In the dressing room, on the pitch, in opposition minds: Messi’s presence elevates everything around him. If Argentina reaches the knockout rounds with him fit, that historic pressure becomes a weapon as much as a burden.
The Squad Battles
| Position | Likely Starter | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| Right back | Nahuel Molina | Gonzalo Montiel |
| Holding mid | Leandro Paredes | Giovani Lo Celso |
| Right wing | Ángel Correa | Valentín Carboni |
| Second striker | Lautaro Martínez | Paulo Dybala (if fit) |
Paulo Dybala is the wildcard. Recurring injuries have made him a constant selection gamble, but his technical quality when available is exceptional. Scaloni has taken him cautiously in recent squads. If Dybala arrives at the tournament healthy, he could be the joker card off the bench.
Projected 26-Man Squad
Goalkeepers (3): Emiliano Martínez, Franco Armani, Gerónimo Rulli
Defenders (8): Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Nicolás Otamendi, Germán Pezzella, Nahuel Molina, Gonzalo Montiel, Nicolás Tagliafico, Valentín Barco
Midfielders (8): Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister, Rodrigo De Paul, Leandro Paredes, Giovani Lo Celso, Exequiel Palacios, Thiago Almada, Ángel Di María (if recalled)
Forwards (7): Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martínez, Julián Álvarez, Paulo Dybala, Ángel Correa, Valentín Carboni, Adolfo Gaich
Note: Scaloni announces the official list in May ahead of the FIFA deadline. This projection will be updated in Phase 2.
Verdict: Argentina’s World Cup 2026 Chances
Argentina are defending champions and among the favourites. Their edge is the combination of winning experience under Scaloni (four trophies), technical quality in every line, and tactical flexibility that doesn’t depend on a single system.
The main risk is physical: key players arriving with accumulated fatigue from the European season. But if Argentina reach the Round of 16 with their core fit, they are extremely difficult to eliminate.
Full coverage at the World Cup 2026 hub and the Argentina national team profile.