With a commanding presence in the South American standings and qualification already secured for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Argentina’s national team is preparing for its final competitive fixtures before the tournament. The Albiceleste will face Chile on June 6 in Santiago and Colombia on June 11 in Buenos Aires—two games that may not change Argentina’s fate but could heavily influence the qualification hopes of others.
But as coach Lionel Scaloni released the preliminary list for these crucial matches, the big question on everyone’s mind was simple: Will the squad include the iconic captain returning from injury?
On Thursday, the Argentine Football Association published the preliminary squad list, featuring 29 players—all currently playing abroad. The squad is a blend of familiar names from the 2022 World Cup triumph and promising young talents still carving out their place in the senior setup.
Veterans like Emiliano Martinez, Cristian Romero, Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernandez, and star Julian Alvarez are all present, reinforcing the core that powered Argentina to glory in Qatar. But there’s also renewed opportunity for youth, with Alejandro Garnacho and Valentin Barco returning to the fold. Garnacho’s form at Manchester United and Barco’s resurgence at Strasbourg appear to have earned them another look.
The inclusion of names like Giovani Lo Celso, Nicolas Dominguez, Valentin Castellanos, and Nicolas Paz also hints at a vision for both present stability and future adaptability.
Is Lionel Messi back?
Then came the reveal that answered the most pressing question of all: Lionel Messi is back in the Argentina squad.
The 37-year-old captain had missed March’s high-profile qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil due to a left adductor injury. At the time, his absence was a blow, but Argentina’s ability to dominate even without their talisman showed how well-rounded the team has become.
Now fully recovered and in strong form with Inter Miami, Messi returns to the national team for what could be one of his final stretches of competitive international matches before 2026.
Notable absences and final cuts to come
While Messi’s return made headlines, there were several surprising omissions. German Pezzella, Marcos Acuna, and Gonzalo Montiel were all left out—only Montiel due to injury, while the others appear to have been dropped for form or tactical reasons.
More surprising was the absence of Bologna’s Santiago Castro and Benjamin Dominguez, fresh off an Italian Cup victory. Their omission, despite club success, suggests that Scaloni is prioritizing tactical cohesion over short-term form.
Another name missing is Paulo Dybala, who continues to recover after thigh surgery in March. Though immensely talented, his persistent fitness issues have once again kept him from national duty.
Scaloni is expected to finalize the squad closer to the match dates, with the potential inclusion of domestic league players. The final list will depend on fitness, form, and the physical demands of a long season winding down in Europe.
