Is Lionel Messi going to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup? With the 48-team tournament set to take place next summer in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, it’s a question that everyone’s asking.
Messi, who will be 39 by then, has played in five World Cups for Argentina and holds the record for the most World Cup matches played (26), surpassing Germany’s Lothar Matthäus last year. After finally securing a World Cup victory in 2022, some anticipated that Messi would retire from the international stage before 2026.
While that possibility remains, Messi continues to hint at the chance of playing in 2026.
“Playing for my country is special, especially in a significant tournament, especially after winning the World Cup,” Messi stated to SPORT, a Spanish newspaper. “But I don’t want to be a hindrance; I need to be in good shape to contribute to the team.”
Currently, Messi is in excellent form, finishing a season as the leading scorer (26) and assist provider (19) in Major League Soccer. His team, Inter Miami CF, secured third place in the Eastern Conference and celebrated its first MLS Cup title, with Messi contributing two assists in the final.
Inter Miami CF vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC Highlights | 2025 MLS Cup | Fox Soccer
Check out the highlights from the 2025 MLS Cup Final between Inter Miami CF and Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
Inter Miami will enter a three-month break after the MLS Cup final, resuming play in February. Messi’s participation in 2026 will ultimately depend on his fitness as the tournament approaches.
“Our schedule differs from the European one,” Messi explained. “There’s a pre-season ahead, and not many games before the World Cup, so I’ll take it day by day to assess my readiness to perform.”
Should Messi step onto the field for Argentina in the 2026 World Cup, he will become the first male player to compete in six World Cups. The only other athletes to achieve this are Brazil’s Formiga (seven) and Marta (six).
FIFA has yet to announce the official deadline for squad submissions, but it typically falls a month prior to the tournament’s start. The World Cup kicks off on Wednesday, June 11, and the final is set for Sunday, July 19.
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The potential for Lionel Messi to play in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is significant for soccer fans as it could mark the beginning of a new record—one that highlights his extraordinary longevity in the sport. His presence would not only elevate the excitement of the tournament but also reaffirm the magnetic draw that legends like Messi bring to football on the global stage.
