Argentina squad World Cup 2026: Which players will make it to the showpiece in USA, Mexico and Canada?

Barring any surprises, Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martínez is expected to remain Argentina’s first-choice goalkeeper at the 2026 World Cup. The World Cup winner has been a decisive figure in Argentina’s recent success, delivering standout performances in both the Copa América and the 2022 World Cup, particularly in high-pressure penalty shootouts, where his psychological edge has often proved as important as his shot-stopping ability.

Behind him, Marseille’s Gerónimo Rulli is set to provide experienced backup, offering reliability and international pedigree when called upon. Juan Musso of Atlético Madrid also remains firmly in contention for a squad place, ensuring strong competition for the goalkeeping roles. Meanwhile, Walter Benítez of Crystal Palace adds further depth with his consistency in European football, while Facundo Cambeses of Racing Club and Santiago Beltrán of River Plate represent the domestic options who continue to push for recognition at the international level.

The Argentines are well covered in the defensive department, with numerous quality options in every position. The center-back pairing of Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez is arguably among the best in the world, with both players leading the backline and defending with aggression and composure.

Meanwhile, the experienced Nicolas Otamendi remains a reliable choice for Lionel Scaloni’s side and has confirmed the summer tournament will be his last World Cup as he plans to retire from international football afterwards.

World Cup-winning penalty scorer Gonzalo Montiel and Nicolas Tagliafico are also strong, providing valuable depth and flexibility in case of injuries, while Nahuel Molina heads into the tournament after scoring some stunning goals this season for Atletico Madrid.

Versatile defenders like Kevin Mac Allister and Nicolás Capaldo also offer tactical flexibility, capable of covering multiple roles when needed.

Meanwhile, younger and developing options such as Agustín Giay, Lautaro Di Lollo, and Zaid Romero are pushing to break into the final squad, reflecting the depth of talent available in Argentina’s defensive pool.

Alongside a strong defense, the Albiceleste are also well equipped in midfield. Scaloni will have a blend of experienced players and exciting young talents to choose from for the 2026 World Cup.

The likes of Alexis Mac Allister, Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernandez, and Leandro Paredes played key roles in Argentina’s 2022 triumph and remain vital figures in the squad.

Emerging talents such as Franco Mastantuono and Claudio Echeverri have been performing brilliantly for their respective clubs and could offer fresh options for Scaloni heading into the tournament, while someone like Thiago Almada has also impressed in Scaloni’s system and could play a significant role to play at the World Cup next year.

Giovani Lo Celso looks set to miss the World Cup with Argentina after suffering a torn quadriceps in his right leg while on loan at Villarreal. Valentin Carboni is another absentee as he's been ruled out with a serious knee injury. 

Argentina are also well stacked in attack. In fact, it is in the attacking department where the Albiceleste are arguably at their strongest. Led by none other than Lionel Messi, fans will be hoping for yet another magical campaign from the legendary number 10.

Messi is well supported in attack by the likes of Julian Alvarez, who played a key role in the 2022 triumph, while Inter’s Lautaro Martinez has also been at the peak of his game, playing an important role for both his club and the national team. Martinez was the top scorer of the 2024 Copa America, even netting the winner in the final against Colombia.

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone’s son, Giuliano Simeone, has also been impressive for the world champions and could emerge as a potential option to start at the World Cup.

They will be without the legendary Angel Di Maria though, who announced his retirement after their 2024 Copa America title victory, while Joaquín Panichelli is set to miss out with a serious knee injury.

Among the high-profile names who didn't even make Scaloni's 55-man preliminary squad are Roma legend Paulo Dybala, ex-Atletico Madrid forward Angel Correa and West Ham's Valentin 'Taty' Castellanos.

Argentina is home to some of the most exciting talents in world football and has produced several top players in recent years. One such star is Julian Alvarez, who has been a menace in European football. Now at Atletico Madrid, Alvarez has become a key player under Diego Simeone and will carry high hopes on his shoulders for Albiceleste fans at next year’s tournament.

Meanwhile, Rodrigo De Paul is another player who has been instrumental in Argentina’s recent success. He will once again be an important asset for Lionel Scaloni’s side at the World Cup.

In defense, Argentina are stacked with leaders, none more important than Emiliano Martinez. The Argentine goalkeeper’s presence between the sticks has been vital in their title-winning campaigns, especially when it comes to penalty shootouts. The center-back pairing of Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez will also play a crucial role for the reigning world champions.

Lastly, no list of Argentina’s star players would be complete without mentioning the magical Lionel Messi. The Inter Miami and former PSG and Barcelona star will be almost 39 by the time the World Cup kicks off and may be playing in his final major tournament with Argentina. Having already won the competition in 2022, Messi remains determined to keep pushing his limits and still has the ability to change games single-handedly. The iconic number 10 will once again be a decisive figure in Argentina’s journey at the showpiece event next year.

Giuliano Simeone and Thiago Almada are two more players who could have a huge say in Lionel Scaloni's team, especially since the retirement of Angel Di Maria.

At the back, Scaloni's first-choice goalkeeper is undoubtedly going to be Emiliano Martinez. Martinez has simply outclassed every other player in his position and currently has no real competition from other keepers.

In defense, Scaloni has preferred a four-man backline and has consistently started the center-back pairing of Lisandro Martinez and Cristian Romero, with Nicolas Otamendi coming off the bench and Leonardo Balerdi of Marseille as another option.

In the wider areas, Nahuel Molina and Nicolas Tagliafico are Scaloni’s preferred choices and are expected to start once again.

Meanwhile, the midfield and forward lines will be a rather interesting domain for the world champions. Rodrigo De Paul is expected to retain his place in the starting XI, alongside Alexis Mac Allister, who is another undroppable player in Scaloni’s system. The third midfield spot will be closely contested, as both Thiago Almada and Enzo Fernandez have made strong cases. Enzo played a key role in Argentina’s 2022 triumph, while Almada has been hugely impressive under Scaloni in recent months. As it stands, Fernandez could edge his way into the starting XI.

Up front, Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez are expected to be undisputed starters, while Lautaro Martinez will be confident of making the starting line-up as well.

Predicted Argentina starting XI (4-3-3): Emi Martinez; Molina, Lisandro, Romero, Tagliafico; De Paul, Mac Allister, Fernandez; Messi, Lautaro, Alvarez