Nine Qatar champions will not make the trip to the next World Cup
In naming his 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup, Lionel Scaloni has drawn a quiet line between what Argentina was and what it is becoming. Messi returns for a sixth tournament — a figure of continuity in a roster that has otherwise turned several pages — while nine champions of Qatar, including Di María and Dybala, will not make the journey to North America. The selection is less a declaration of dominance than a considered act of faith: in emerging talents like Nico Paz and Valentín Barco, in recovered veterans, and in the belief that a generation shaped by 2022 can now carry its own weight.
- Messi's sixth World Cup anchors a squad in transition, but the real tension lies in who was left behind — nine Qatar champions, including Di María and Dybala, absent from a list they once seemed destined to occupy.
- Scaloni's boldest bets are on youth: Nico Paz, whose performances helped Como reach the Champions League, and Valentín Barco, a Strasbourg midfielder whose rise echoes the early trajectories of Mac Allister and Enzo Fernández.
- Atlético Madrid's six Argentine players give the squad an unusual club-shaped spine, while Dibu Martínez's finger injury introduces a note of fragility at the most critical position on the field.
- Midfield carries its own uncertainties — Mac Allister arrives in poor form, Lo Celso's inclusion surprises given his limited minutes at Betis, and Mastantuono's absence despite Real Madrid expectations signals that consistency, not reputation, was Scaloni's currency.
- Argentina faces Honduras and Iceland in June friendlies before the tournament, with seven additional players invited — a final audition for the fringes of a squad that must now prove it can defend what 2022 built.
Lionel Scaloni has named his 26-player squad for the 2026 World Cup, and the list tells a story of transition as much as selection. Messi is present — preparing for his sixth tournament and fourth as captain — but nine players who won in Qatar will not join him, among them Ángel Di María, Paulo Dybala, and Marcos Acuña, names once central to that triumph.
The attack balances proven quality with emerging promise. Lautaro Martínez, Serie A's top scorer this season with Inter, and Julián Álvarez of Atlético Madrid form a formidable partnership alongside Messi. But Scaloni has also placed his trust in Nico Paz, whose performances drove Como to Champions League qualification, and Valentín Barco of Strasbourg, a midfielder whose recent progression suggests he may follow the path of Mac Allister and Enzo Fernández from relative obscurity to national team cornerstone.
Atlético Madrid casts a long shadow over the squad, contributing six players: Álvarez, goalkeeper Juan Musso, Nahuel Molina, Nico González, Thiago Almada, and Giuliano Simeone — son of Diego — who will form part of the first father-son pairing to represent Argentina at consecutive World Cups. In goal, Dibu Martínez of Aston Villa remains the likely starter despite a finger injury.
The midfield blends leadership and calculated risk. Enzo Fernández continues to grow as Chelsea's captain, while Rodrigo de Paul arrives in good physical shape from Inter Miami. Mac Allister's difficult season at Liverpool is a concern Scaloni appears willing to overlook. Lo Celso's inclusion from Betis, where he played sparingly, reads as a second chance — an opportunity to erase the memory of limited minutes in Qatar.
In defense, Otamendi will likely play his final World Cup under Mourinho at Benfica, while Lisandro Martínez has returned to form after serious injury. Romero, Balerdi, Medina, Montiel, and Tagliafico provide experienced depth. Notable absences — Garnacho, Mastantuono, Acuña — suggest Scaloni valued consistency over reputation when making his final calls.
Before the tournament begins, Argentina will face Honduras and Iceland in June friendlies, with seven additional players invited to those matches. The squad Scaloni has assembled is a wager on continuity and renewal in equal measure — Messi as its guarantor, and a new generation tasked with proving it belongs.
Lionel Scaloni has named his 26 players for the 2026 World Cup, and the list reads like a conversation between eras. Messi is there—of course he is—preparing for his sixth World Cup tournament, his fourth as captain of Argentina. But around him, the squad has shifted. Nine players who won the championship in Qatar two years ago will not make the trip to the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Among them are Ángel Di María, Paulo Dybala, Marcos Acuña, and Guido Rodríguez, names that were central to that triumph.
The forward line carries the weight of experience and emerging promise in equal measure. Messi remains the anchor, joined by Julián Álvarez of Atlético Madrid and Lautaro Martínez of Inter Milan, who won the Serie A title this season and finished as the league's top scorer. But Scaloni has also selected Nico Paz, the Como player whose team secured Champions League qualification partly on his performances, and Valentín Barco, a midfielder from Strasbourg whose progression over recent months has been striking enough to suggest he could become the next Alexis Mac Allister or Enzo Fernández—young talents who emerged from relative obscurity into the national team's core.
Atlético Madrid has an outsized presence in this squad. Six of its Argentine players made the cut: Álvarez, Juan Musso in goal, Nahuel Molina at right back, Nico González in attack, Thiago Almada in midfield, and Giuliano Simeone, the son of Diego Simeone, who will become part of the first father-son pairing to represent Argentina at consecutive World Cups alongside Nico Paz and his father Pablo. Musso, who defended the Atlético goal capably in the absence of Jan Oblak, earned his selection despite competition from Gerónimo Rulli of Marseille and Dibu Martínez of Aston Villa, the latter the likely starter despite a finger injury.
The midfield reflects a blend of proven leaders and calculated gambles. Enzo Fernández, Chelsea's captain and the team's best player, continues to grow as a professional. Rodrigo de Paul arrives in good physical condition after his season with Inter Miami. Alexis Mac Allister, however, arrives in uncertain form after a difficult year at Liverpool, though Scaloni appears confident he will rediscover his best self. Leandro Paredes, who commands Boca's midfield, and Exequiel Palacios, recovered from an early-season injury at Bayer Leverkusen, round out the deeper options. Giovani Lo Celso's inclusion from Real Betis, where he has played sparingly, counts as a surprise—a chance for him to erase the disappointment of limited minutes at the Qatar World Cup.
The defense leans on experience. Nicolás Otamendi, playing under José Mourinho at Benfica, will likely play his final World Cup. Lisandro Martínez of Manchester United has recovered from a serious injury and returns to the form that made him a revelation at Ajax. Cristian Romero at Tottenham, Leonardo Balerdi at Marseille, and Facundo Medina, also of Marseille, provide depth. Nahuel Molina finished the season strongly and even earned affection from his club's supporters with several long-range goals, though Scaloni may want to see him attempt more from distance. Gonzalo Montiel of River missed part of the season with a muscle tear but played at a high level when available. Nicolás Tagliafico, a trusted figure under Scaloni, had a solid campaign at Lyon.
Notable absences shape the narrative as much as selections do. Marcos Acuña, River's left back, was not called. Alejandro Garnacho, despite his prominence at Manchester United, did not make the squad. Mastantuono of Real Madrid, expected by some to feature, was left out—his lack of consistency this season apparently decisive. The nine Qatar champions who will not return include some who seemed like locks: Di María, the veteran winger; Dybala, the creative force; and Rodríguez, the midfielder who anchored Argentina's defense.
Argentina will play friendlies against Honduras and Iceland on June 6 and 9, with seven additional players invited to those matches: Santiago Beltrán, Agustín Giay, Nicolás Capaldo, Tomás Aranda, Ignacio Ovando, Joaquín Freitas, and Simón Escobar. The squad Scaloni has chosen suggests he believes Argentina's next chapter will be written by players who were teenagers or barely adults when the last one ended, supported by the remaining pillars of 2022. Messi's presence guarantees continuity; everyone else must prove they belong.
Notable Quotes
Valentín Barco could be the next Alexis Mac Allister or Enzo Fernández— Analysis of Scaloni's squad selection
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why does Scaloni keep Messi at all? Isn't this the moment to build toward the future?
Because Messi is still Messi. He's not here as a symbol—he's here because he can still play at the highest level. But you're right that the squad is younger around him. Nine players from Qatar are gone.
Who are the real surprises here?
Valentín Barco and Nico Paz. Barco especially. He's had a strong season in France, but he's not a household name. If he performs well, he could reshape Argentina's midfield for years. Paz is different—he's already proven himself, but his team just made the Champions League because of him.
What about the absences? Acuña seems like he should be there.
Scaloni clearly decided to move on. Acuña is a good player, but there are other options at left back now. It's a generational shift. Di María, Dybala, Acuña—they were essential in Qatar. Now they're not.
Does this squad actually look stronger than the one that won in Qatar?
Different, not necessarily stronger. More youth, more uncertainty. But Scaloni has earned the right to experiment. He won a World Cup. He knows what he's doing.
What's the biggest risk?
Mac Allister. He's had a rough year at Liverpool. If he doesn't find his form, Argentina's midfield loses a crucial creative outlet. That's the one that keeps you up at night.