king
23 Emiliano Martínez
knight
3 Nicolás Tagliafico
pawn
13 Cristian Romero
pawn
6 Lisandro Martínez
knight
26 Nahuel Molina
rook
5 Leandro Paredes
bishop
24 Enzo Fernández
rook
20 Alexis Mac Allister
bishop
7 Rodrigo De Paul
queen
10 Lionel Messi
queen
9 Julián Álvarez
4-3-1-2
4-4-2
4-3-3
4-2-3-1
4-1-4-1
4-5-1
4-3-2-1
3-5-2
3-4-3
5-3-2
5-4-1
Piece
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World Cup 2026

Argentina

Runner-up

The defending champions return with Messi for his final World Cup, backed by Enzo Fernandez, Mac Allister, and a squad built to win again.

0
Played
0
Wins
0
Goals
0
Win Rate
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DEU1
PRY1
3-4 pen
FRA3
SWE0
ZAF0
CAN1
NLD1
MAR1
2-3 pen
PRT2
HRV1
ESP3
AUT0
USA2
BIH0
BEL3
SEN2
PRY0
FRA1
CAN0
MAR3
PRT0
ESP1
USA1
BEL4
FRA2
MAR0
ESP2
BEL1
FRA0
ESP2
Final
ESP1
ARG0
ENG1
ARG2
NOR1
ENG2
ARG3
CHE1
BRA1
NOR2
MEX2
ENG3
ARG3
EGY2
CHE0
COL0
4-3 pen
BRA2
JPN1
CIV1
NOR2
MEX2
ECU0
ENG2
COD1
ARG3
CPV2
AUS1
EGY1
2-4 pen
CHE2
DZA0
COL1
GHA0
The Campaign

World Cup 2026

Argentina arrive in 2026 as defending champions for the first time since 1990. The Qatar 2022 squad that ended Lionel Messi's 20-year international trophy pursuit has largely stayed together under Lionel Scaloni, now one of international football's most respected managers. Messi himself, 38 going into the tournament, has repeatedly called 2026 a likely final dance. Backing him: Copa América 2024 retention, a qualification cycle topped by a wide margin, and the deepest midfield the country has had in decades.

19:00 FT MetLife Stadium
Spain
1 ◆︎ 0
Argentina
Final
19:00 FT Mercedes-Benz Stadium
England
1 ◆︎ 2
Argentina
Semi-finals
01:00 FT Arrowhead Stadium
Argentina
3 ◆︎ 1
Switzerland
Quarter-finals
16:00 FT Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Argentina
3 ◆︎ 2
Egypt
Round of 16
22:00 FT Hard Rock Stadium
Argentina
3 ◆︎ 2
Cape Verde
Round of 32
02:00 FT AT&T Stadium
Jordan
1 ◆︎ 3
Argentina
group stage
17:00 FT AT&T Stadium
Argentina
2 ◆︎ 0
Austria
group stage
01:00 FT Arrowhead Stadium
Argentina
3 ◆︎ 0
Algeria
group stage
The Defining Moment

Argentina 2026

Arriving as defending champions, Argentina looked unstoppable in the group stage, winning every match and signalling their intentions early. They edged past Cape Verde in the Round of 32, found a way past Egypt in the Round of 16, got the better of Switzerland in the Quarter-finals, edged past England in the Semi-finals, and were narrowly knocked out by Spain in the Final. In the final, Spain proved too strong, and the remarkable journey ended just one step short of the ultimate prize.

2026 campaign
0 matches played

7won1lost

19scored8conceded

7 consecutive wins +11 goal difference.

Top Scorer

Lionel Messi

0 goals
10Forward

Lionel Messi, 38, enters his sixth and presumably final World Cup as the reigning holder and tournament MVP. After moving to Inter Miami in 2023, his fitness has been managed around the international calendar. A second World Cup title would make him only the fourth player to win two (Pelé, Vavá, Didi, and Cafu all won with Brazil). Lionel Messi led Argentina's attack with 8 goals 6 in the group stage, 1 in the round of 32 and 1 in the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup. A specialist in decisive moments, with goals in the closing stages that changed the course of matches. A specialist in decisive moments, with goals in the closing stages.

Defensive record
0 clean sheets

Conceded in only 6 of 8 matches

Head Coach

Lionel Scaloni

Argentine · 2018 – 2026

Scaloni, 48, was promoted from assistant to head coach in 2018 with zero senior managerial experience. Six years later, he has won Copa América (2021, 2024) and a World Cup. His squad management calm, collaborative, loyal to the players who won him 2022 is now a template being studied across international football. At the helm since the 2022 World Cup 7 wins from 8 under Scaloni.

Playing Style

Survival by Inches

Tactical identity · 2026

Scaloni's champions won almost nothing comfortably. Two extra times before the final, a semi-final rescued in the last five minutes, and a goalkeeper carrying the load Argentina advanced on nerve and Messi's passing until, in the final, there was no nerve left to spend.

Goalkeepers

1
Juan Musso
GK
12
Gerónimo Rulli
GK
23
Emiliano Martínez
8GAMES
GK

Defenders

2
Marcos Senesi
2GAMES
CB
3
Nicolás Tagliafico
7GAMES
LB
4
Gonzalo Montiel
6GAMES
RB
6
Lisandro Martínez
7GAMES1GOAL
CB
8
Valentín Barco
1GAME
CB
13
Cristian Romero
7GAMES1GOAL
CB
14
Exequiel Palacios
1GAME
RB
19
Nicolás Otamendi
7GAMES
CB
25
Facundo Medina
5GAMES
LB
26
Nahuel Molina
7GAMES
RB

Midfielders

5
Leandro Paredes
7GAMES
DM
7
Rodrigo De Paul
7GAMES
RM
11
Giovani Lo Celso
1GAME1GOAL
CM
15
Nicolás González
7GAMES
LM
16
Thiago Almada
5GAMES
LM
17
Giuliano Simeone
3GAMES
RM
18
Nico Paz
2GAMES
LM
20
Alexis Mac Allister
8GAMES1GOAL
CM
24
Enzo Fernández
7GAMES2GOALS
CM

Forwards

9
Julián Álvarez
8GAMES1GOAL
CF
10
Lionel Messi
8GAMES8GOALS
CF
21
Jose Manuel Lopez
2GAMES
CF
22
Lautaro Martínez
7GAMES3GOALS
CF
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