The Lionel Messi 2026 World Cup speculation has been fuelling on as it has been made apparent by Lionel Scaloni, the manager of Argentina, that the ultimate choice is in the hands of the captain. As the tournament will be held between June and July 2026, there is still no certainty that Lionel Messi will be a participant on the largest football stage again. The recent remarks of Scaloni are rather cautious and respectful.
Instead of compelling them to make the commitment, he has left the door open and recognized that Messi has the right to make the decision depending on his physical condition and motivation. This is a general feeling of the Argentina national football team, whereby the presence of Messi is being described as priceless without being pressured. Argentina too has been disturbed by its preparation plans off the field.
High-profile confrontation with Spain national football team in the Finalissima was not possible according to geopolitical tensions associated with the Iran conflict 2020s. Rather, Argentina will be holding friendlies with Mauritania and Zambia during the prevailing international window. Scaloni has selected a 28-member squad with Messi and it is an indication that he will continue to be the key figure in the team. But the picture is less clear in the long-term.
Messi will be 39 by 2026; an age at which relatively few outfield players are still playing at an international elite level. Nonetheless, in the contemporary game of football, players have been able to prolong their lives due to enhanced fitness and rest. The brilliance of Messi in terms of technical qualities and intelligence in the game might enable him to adjust even in case of a change in his role.
