KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI — Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni named Lionel Messi in the country's 55-man preliminary squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The list included 16 forwards, among them Messi and Gianluca Prestianni.

Messi, 38, has not confirmed his availability for the tournament and has neither committed to nor cut ties with the Argentina national team ahead of the competition. The Inter Miami and Argentina captain missed Argentina's last few World Cup qualifying matches due to injuries.

Scaloni addressed the uncertainty in a statement about the squad selection. "There was plenty of time to make a call on Messi's future in international football." Scaloni said the preliminary list gives the team flexibility before the tournament begins.

Messi addressed his career timeline in remarks about his playing future. "I'm conscious that I'm playing my final matches, and I'm enjoying them to the maximum. I'm sure that you're watching my final moments in football's elite," he said.

Argentina midfielder Rodrigo de Paul spoke about Messi's role with the national team. "The best of our teams is always when the number 10 is playing because he is the greatest of all time," de Paul said.

At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Argentina won the title for the first time in 36 years. Messi scored seven goals during that tournament, including Argentina's first goal in regulation time in the final against France and the team's first penalty in the shootout that decided the match. In South American qualifying play last year, Argentina defeated Brazil 4-1.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is being co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, with the tournament concluding on July 19, 2026. Argentina will open their title defense against Algeria on June 16 in Kansas City, Missouri. The team will then face Austria on June 22 in Dallas, Texas, followed by a match against Jordan on June 27, also in Dallas.