Coach Lionel Scaloni has finalized the 26-man squad to travel to North America to defend the World Cup title - Photo: REUTERS
On the morning of May 29th, coach Lionel Scaloni officially announced the Argentina national team squad for the 2026 World Cup. Alongside Lionel Messi, the "Albiceleste" bring to North America stars currently making waves in Europe such as Julian Alvarez, Enzo Fernandez, and Alexis MacAllister…
Argentina's campaign to defend the World Cup trophy.
Considering the quality of their current squad, Argentina remains one of the top contenders for the 2026 World Cup title.
No longer the doubted team they were before the 2022 World Cup, the "Albiceleste" possess a stable, experienced core. And most importantly, they have matured significantly after a series of major titles.
In the attacking line, Lionel Messi remains the center of attention. Despite being in the twilight of his career, the Argentine superstar maintains impressive form for Inter Miami in the MLS. Messi's ability to create chances, control the tempo of the game, and make decisive contributions remains world-class.
Alongside Messi, Julian Alvarez is emerging as the new driving force of the attack. The striker is constantly improving his movement, pressing, and finishing abilities.
Lautaro Martinez also enters the tournament in a completely different position compared to 2022, when he was one of the most consistent strikers in Serie A.
In midfield, Argentina continues to possess a very strong midfield lineup. Rodrigo De Paul remains the "engine" of their midfield in terms of energy and tackling. Meanwhile, Enzo Fernandez and Alexis MacAllister have matured significantly after several seasons playing in the Premier League. Argentina's ball control, transitions, and pressing abilities are considerably more modern than they were four years ago.
The defense remains solid with the partnership of Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez. In goal, Emiliano Martinez continues to provide stability and composure in big matches.
Compared to the 2022 World Cup, Argentina in 2026 clearly possesses a more balanced and complete squad in terms of depth.
Will Argentina in 2026 be stronger than the 2022 version?
Argentina's strongest form remains that of a unified team – Photo: CNN
Many of the Argentinian players at the 2022 World Cup are considered only promising talents. Enzo Fernandez and Julian Alvarez are still relatively inexperienced, while Mac Allister still possesses the same level of influence as he currently does.
Compared to the French or English teams that year, Argentina didn't possess many players who gave off an overwhelming individual presence.
However, Argentina's greatest strength in 2022 lies in their fighting spirit. It's a team willing to fight for Lionel Messi at all costs.
From De Paul and Emiliano Martinez to Alvarez and Otamendi, they all possessed the mentality of those willing to sacrifice everything to help Messi lift the World Cup trophy.
That's what makes Argentina so resilient, cohesive, and emotionally charged. They may not have been the most aesthetically pleasing team that season, but they were a united group with the strongest spirit in the tournament.
Meanwhile, Argentina is already "satiated" with titles, having won two Copa America championships (2021 and 2024), one World Cup (2022), and one Finalssima (2022). This is also what worries many fans that their fighting spirit may no longer be as strong as before.
The most important factor remains Lionel Messi. At the 2022 World Cup, Messi was almost at his best in the national team's colors. He scored goals, provided assists, controlled the game, and consistently made a difference at the most crucial moments. It was a World Cup where Messi was ready to carry the entire Argentina team on his shoulders.
Currently, Messi's class remains undiminished, but age is certainly a factor that cannot be ignored. The World Cup is always a highly intense tournament, where physical fitness and the ability to maintain performance are extremely important.
Nevertheless, Argentina's greatest strength remains a team that plays as a unified collective. Coach Scaloni has maintained a highly disciplined core, while the young players have matured significantly over the past four years.
Names like Enzo Fernandez, Mac Allister, Alvarez, and Nico Paz bring a fresh burst of energy. Meanwhile, veterans like Emiliano Martinez and De Paul serve as the team's spiritual leaders. At the same time, faith in coach Scaloni and captain Messi remains the team's strongest weapon.
Overall, Argentina in 2026 could theoretically be considered a stronger version of the 2022 World Cup-winning team. But to defend the World Cup trophy, they will need more than the hunger, resilience, and fighting spirit that propelled the "Albiceleste" to the top of the world in Qatar.