Who is Argentina's captain for FIFA World Cup 2026?
(Courtesy : Getty)
Argentina begin their campaign on June 17
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup in its final preparations, the excitement is at its peak. The tournament will be co-hosted by the USA, Mexico and Canada, and will kick off on June 11.
The Argentina national football team are all ready to defend their title, winning the previous edition in penalties against France. If Argentina manages to win, they will become only the third side to win consecutive titles, after Italy (1938) and Brazil (1962).
Manager Lionel Scaloni has unveiled the final 26-member squad for the competition. While the squad comprises a balance of former winners and newer talents. However, the manager has also excluded players who had won the previous edition. Before the World Cup commencement, Argentina will play international friendlies against Honduras and Iceland.
La Albiceleste’s squad comprises new and upcoming superstars like Nico Paz, Valentin Barco and Giuliano Simeone, who will be guided by experienced players like Lionel Messi and Nicolás Otamendi. The team will have high expectations upon them, with the ultimate aim to reclaim the title.
Who will be Argentina’s captain?
Lionel Messi is the captain of the Argentina national football team and will lead his team in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Messi is set to captain the national team for the fourth consecutive edition – after leading the side in the previous three tournaments.
With 26 appearances, Lionel Messi is the record holder for most World Cup games for Argentina in over 5 editions. With the 2026 World Cup, Messi, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, will become the player to feature in the most World Cups. He was crucial in the 2022 World Cup, registering 10 G/A, scoring seven goals and providing three assists.
La Albiceleste are placed in Group J of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, dubbed as an easy pathway to the knockout stages for the current champions. Argentina will be playing alongside Algeria, Austria and Jordan. They will be kicking off their campaign against Algeria on June 17.
Widely regarded as one of the tournament favourites, La Albiceleste are entering the tournament in great form, after winning the 2024 Copa America.
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Basil Elias Benoy is a sports journalist with a deep passion for football, cricket, and kabaddi. A devoted supporter of Manchester United and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, he combines his academic background in Economics with hands-on experience in sports media. His work ranges from professional sports content creation for digital platforms to on-ground reporting for Indian Super League club Kerala Blasters.