Messi’s Continued Impact on Argentine Football Ahead of the 2026 World Cup

With Lionel Messi now pursuing his club career in the United States, following a historic MLS Cup victory in 2025, he faces a unique challenge ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup in North America. Unlike his European counterparts, he will have played fewer competitive matches, which he acknowledges might impact his performance.

At 38, Messi has expressed concern about being a potential “burden” to the Argentine national team if he is not in peak condition. However, his relative freshness compared to other players could serve as an advantage in the tournament.

Lionel Scaloni, the head coach of the Albiceleste, remains optimistic about Messi’s involvement, maintaining regular communication with the legendary player. If he receives a positive affirmation to play, Messi will undoubtedly be included, given his pivotal role as a talismanic figure in the No. 10 jersey.

Javier Mascherano, who once shared the field with Messi at Barcelona and now coaches him at Inter Miami, believes that the seasoned superstar can contribute significantly to defending the World Cup title. When asked about Messi’s prospects of appearing in his sixth World Cup, Mascherano confidently responded, “Yes, why not?” He seeks to mirror the achievements of other veterans like Cristiano Ronaldo and Guillermo Ochoa, should they be selected by their respective national teams.

Mascherano, who observes Messi’s daily training and understands his physical condition, remarked, “I like to stay close to the players and, above all, understand how they feel. No one knows better than them how their body is responding.”

Discussing Argentina’s chances of winning back-to-back World Cups, Mascherano emphasized that the team is well-prepared and has been competing at a high level consistently, featuring extraordinary talent.

Having already set the record for the most appearances in World Cup finals with 26 matches, Messi is poised to extend that record while also increasing his total international caps to 196. When asked about his desire to participate in Argentina’s title defense in 2026, he expressed, “I hope I can be there. I’ve said before that I’d love to be there. At worst, I’ll be watching it live, but it will be special. The World Cup is special for everyone, especially for us, as we experience it in a completely different way.”

Messi has been in discussions with Scaloni regarding his potential role in the team, stating, “The truth is we’ve been talking about it. He understands, and we’ve discussed it a lot. He always tells me that he would like me to be there in any role. We have a relationship of great trust and can talk about everything.”

However, Messi has opted out of the upcoming Finalissima match against European champions Spain, which would have featured him against 18-year-old Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal. This match is scheduled for March 27 at Lusail Stadium, the site of the 2022 World Cup final.

While international retirement looms on the horizon for Messi as he contemplates his future, his commitment to club football remains unwavering. He has signed a contract extension with Inter Miami, keeping him in the league until 2028.