Argentina have named their squad for the March international break, the last get together before a very important summer.
La Albiceleste head to World Cup 2026 looking to defend their 2022 crown with one of the best squads at the tournament.
Thanks to their most recent success, the three-time winners head to the USA, Canada and Mexico as one of the favourites to lift the trophy again.
Argentina debuted their new home kit against Angola and were likely to wear it for a second time in the Finalissima, a competition between the winners of the Euros and Copa America.
However, that meeting was set to be held in Qatar this month and so had to be cancelled due to the ongoing political situation in the region, with the current World Cup holders unable to arrange a new date.
Captain, legend and the man ranked at no.1 in FourFourTwo's list of the greatest players of all time, Lionel Messi, is back with the squad this time around, but is yet to confirm whether he'll compete in the summer's tournament.
That makes it a great time for the younger elements, such as Franco Mastantuono, Nico Paz and Valentin Barco to throw some of the spotlight on themselves, given Argentina have been a one-man show for some time, and other major stars like Lautaro Martinez are sidelined with injury.
Squad
Argentina World Cup 2026 squad: The March selection
- GK: Juan Musso (Atletico Madrid)
- GK: Geronimo Rulli (Marseille)
- GK: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
- DF: Leonardo Balerdi (Marseille)
- DF: Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon)
- DF: Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate)
- DF: Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth)
- DF: Marcos Acuna (River Plate)
- DF: Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur)
- DF: Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica)
- DF: Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid)
- DF: Valentin Barco (Strasbourg)
- MF: Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors)
- MF: Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami)
- MF: Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen)
- MF: Thiago Almada (Atletico Madrid)
- MF: Nicolas Paz (Como)
- MF: Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool)
- MF: Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea)
- MF: Maximo Perrone (Como)
- FW: Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid)
- FW: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
- FW: Nicolas Gonzalez (Atletico Madrid)
- FW: Giuliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid)
- FW: Franco Mastantuono (Real Madrid)
- FW: Jose Manuel Lopez (Palmeiras)
- FW: Joaquin Panichelli (Strasbourg)
- FW: Gianluca Prestianni (Benfica)
Fixtures and results
Fixtures
- March 27, 2026: Argentina vs Mauritania, Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- March 31, 2026: Argentina vs Zambia, Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- June 16, 2026: Argentina vs Algeria, Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri, United States
- June 22, 2026: Argentina vs Austria, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, United States
- June 27, 2026: Jordan vs Argentina, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, United States
Recent results
- November 14, 2025: Angola 0-2 Argentina, Estádio 11 de Novembro, Luanda, Angola
- October 14: Puerto Rico 0-6 Argentina, Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, United States
- October 10: Argentina 1-0 Venezuela, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, United States
- September 10: Ecuador 1-0 Argentina, Estadio Monumental Banco Pichincha, Guayaquil, Ecuador
- September 4: Argentina 3-0 Venezuela, Mas Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- June 11: Argentina 1-1 Colombia, Mas Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- June 6: Chile 0-1 Argentina, Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Pradanos, Santiago, Chile
- March 26: Argentina 4-1 Brazil, Mas Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- March 21: Uruguay 0-1 Argentina, Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay
Manager
Who is Argentina's manager?
Lionel Scaloni has led Argentina in an incredibly successful period for the nation.
He has won three major trophies in a row, Copa America, World Cup and another Copa America, ending their droughts in both competitions.
His team selections have been aided by some outstanding performances at club level, and well, having Lionel Messi at his disposal.
Argentina's Star Player
Who is Argentina's star player?
Not much is left to be said about Lionel Messi. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner reached the summit of football when he lifted the 2022 World Cup, firmly cementing his status as one of the greats.
He cast doubt on his participation at the 2026 World Cup in September, saying, "I said before about the World Cup that I don't think I'll play another. Because of my age, the most logical thing is that I won't make it." Scaloni insists there has not yet been a decision from the 38-year-old, who still hasn't addressed his exact intentions.
Messi ranked at no.1 in FourFourTwo's list of the greatest players of all time, and has been a huge part of Argentina winning the Copa America back-to-back, with the World Cup sandwiched in between.
