The 2026 World Cup is shaping up to be historic with 48 nations competing across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. With squads getting announced left and right, fans have been wondering whether their favourite players will be there for the event, especially whether Lionel Messi will play in the 2026 World Cup.
Messi and Ronaldo’s world cup stats go a long way, we've been tracking Lionel Messi's situation closely as Argentina prepares to defend their title. At 38 years old, Messi has kept supporters guessing about his international future. He dropped a couple of hints here and there, but there was never a definitive statement until Argentina announced its provisional squad for the tournament.
Given the excitement levels around the tournament, the squad announcements have been shifting the odds across all UK betting sites as bookmakers react to each squad reveal.
Will Messi Play the 2026 World Cup?
Yes, Messi is very likely to play in the 2026 World Cup. Argentina officially included him in their 55-player provisional squad announced on May 11, and manager Lionel Scaloni will trim this list to a final squad of 23-26 players by June 1.
Messi has consistently said he would play the 2026 World Cup if he feels fit and capable of performing at his highest level. His recent form suggests he meets that standard as he played the full 90 minutes in Miami's 4-2 win over Toronto just before the squad announcement, contributing two assists and a goal.
In the MLS, Messi averaged a goal contribution every 83 minutes.
The decision ultimately rests with Messi himself. Scaloni has made clear he wants the captain in the squad but won't force his hand. Back in March, the manager said he'd "do everything possible" for Messi to be there. However, considering the Argentinian star is in the provisional squad, we believe that Messi will play the World Cup 2026, unless he suffers a last minute injury.
Messi was Argentina's top scorer in World Cup qualifying despite missing several matches due to injury. He found the net eight times across 12 appearances in the 18-match South American qualification campaign.
What Messi Thinks About Argentina's Odds at the 2026 World Cup
While Messi is expected to feature in the 2026 World Cup, he's not treating Argentina as automatic favourites. In a recent YouTube appearance on Lo Del Pollo, Messi urged fans to stay excited but realistic about Argentina's odds of winning.
"We have to get excited, like Argentinians always do whenever there's an official competition," Messi explained. "But we also have to know that there are other favorites ahead of us, who are coming in better as a group and as a team."
Overall, Messi sees France, Spain, Germany, England, and Portugal as the top competitors at the 2026 World Cup. The bookmakers seem to agree with Messi as well. Today’s odds boosts have been heavily featuring these nations as the tournament approaches.