Buenos Aires brings forth bitter memories of the 1994 World Cup hosted by the United States. During that tournament, Diego Maradona, the national icon, faced expulsion after a positive doping test post the second group match. Maradona never graced the World Cup field again, leading to Argentina’s elimination in the round of 16. Fast forward thirty-two years, Argentina, a formidable force in South America, is hopeful for a brighter outcome for Lionel Messi, Maradona’s successor.
With Messi turning 39 this month, there is widespread expectation of his retirement from international football following the 2026 World Cup. This event will be jointly hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. Should Messi and the team retain the trophy won four years prior in Qatar, Argentina will hold the distinction as the first team to claim back-to-back victories since Brazil in 1962. Such triumph would further bolster the sentiments of those who hail Messi as the greatest player ever.
In an interview with Argentine broadcast journalist Joaquín “Pollo” Álvarez, Messi shared, “I love playing football and I’m going to do it until I can’t anymore. I’m competitive, I like to win at everything, I don’t even let my kids win at video games sometimes. It’s just my nature and what led me to achieve everything I have.”
Anticipating his record sixth World Cup appearance, Messi is recovering from a hamstring issue that led to his substitution during Inter Miami’s last match before the tournament on May 24. Training independently at Argentina’s camp in Kansas City, Messi prepares for the tournament.
Argentina’s coach, Lionel Scaloni, acknowledges the suboptimal conditions of several players, including Messi, stating to DSports, “We all would have liked Messi to arrive without any problems, but that’s not the case. Not only him, most of the players aren’t fully recovered yet.” The squad grapples with various fitness issues.
Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, celebrated for his skill in shootouts during 2022, deals with a fractured ring finger incurred in the Europa League final. Defender Cristian “Cuti” Romero addresses a knee injury acquired in mid-April at Tottenham. Right backs Nahuel Molina and Gonzalo Montiel, alongside midfielder Leandro Paredes, confront muscle injuries.
Argentina, twice champions in 1978 and 1986, kicks off its World Cup journey on June 16 against Algeria in Kansas City. Subsequently, Group J will witness matches against Austria on June 22 and Jordan on June 27 in Arlington, Texas.
Scaloni maintains trust in 17 of the 26 squad members who achieved victory in 2022, despite several grappling with physical challenges. He clarifies, “Why change them if they don’t deserve that? We’ve always been honest with them. The players who are here today have shown us they want to be here. And secondly, their level hasn’t dropped.”
Following their 2024 Copa América triumph, Argentina topped the South American World Cup qualifying group. Julián Álvarez, an Atlético Madrid forward, plays a crucial role in Scaloni’s strategy. Barcelona, Arsenal, and PSG express interest in Álvarez for the upcoming season. Scaloni introduces new talents: Valentín Barco, recent Chelsea signee, Nicolás Paz from Italy’s Como, and top Brazilian club Palmeiras’ scorer Juan Manuel López.
Ángel Di María, retired from international play in 2024, marks a notable absence compared to previous tournaments. Scaloni acknowledges Di María’s irreplaceable value, stating, “It’s impossible to fill Di María’s shoes. He and Messi are irreplaceable.”
Messi, known for his humble demeanor, tempers expectations of achieving another World Cup title. He remarks, “We have to get excited, like Argentines always do, but we also have to know that there are other favorites ahead of us who are in better form.”
Holding the record for most World Cup matches (26), Messi needs four goals to surpass Miroslav Klose’s record of 16 World Cup goals. Although Messi hasn’t officially declared his national team retirement post-World Cup, he alluded to his last professional match against Venezuela in Buenos Aires being his final competitive home game for Argentina.
Reflecting on the game, Messi said, “It was very emotional, knowing this was my last competitive match here. I’ve been through a lot in this stadium — some great moments and some difficult ones — but it’s always special to play in front of our fans.”
Scaloni, alongside many Argentines, struggles with the thought of a team without Messi. In his conversation with the South American soccer confederation CONMEBOL, Scaloni expresses, “I like to think he’s going to keep playing because otherwise you get sad, like what happened with Diego (Maradona). They are players who have made history in football and thinking that they won’t play anymore doesn’t leave you at peace. I prefer to think about the present.”