Argentina has bitter memories of 1994, the last time the United States hosted the World Cup.
After the second group stage match, national icon Diego Maradona was expelled from the tournament due to a positive doping test. Maradona would never play another World Cup match, and Argentina was eliminated in the round of 16.
Thirty-two years later, the South American powerhouse is hoping for a happier ending for Maradonas heir, Lionel Messi, who is turning 39 this month and is widely expected to retire from international soccer after the curtain comes down on the 2026 World Cup, which the U.S. is co-hosting with Mexico and Canada.
If he and Argentina manage to keep the World Cup trophy they won four years ago in Qatar, they will become the first team to win back-to-back titles since Brazil in 1962. It would also strengthen the claim of those who already call Messi the greatest player of all time.
“I love playing football and Im going to do it until I cant anymore,” Messi told Argentine broadcast journalist JoaquÃn “Pollo” Alvarez in a YouTube interview. “Im competitive, I like to win at everything, I dont even let my kids win at video games sometimes. Its just my nature and what led me to achieve everything I have.”
After more than 20 years playing for Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami, Messis body is showing signs of wear. A week ahead of what will be his record sixth World Cup, he is recovering from a hamstring problem that led to his substitution during Inter Miamis final match before the tournament on May 24.
The Argentina captain worked out on his own at the team’s base camp in Kansas City this week.
“We all would have liked Messi to arrive without any problems, but thats not the case. Not only him, most of the players arent fully recovered yet,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni told DSports, a Latin American TV network.
Goalkeeper Emiliano MartÃnez, hero of two penalty shootouts in 2022, including the final against France, suffered a fracture to the ring finger of his right hand during the Europa League final while playing for Aston Villa.
Defender Cristian “Cuti” Romero is recovering from a knee injury he picked up in mid-April while playing for Tottenham. Right backs Nahuel Molina and Gonzalo Montiel are dealing with muscle injuries as is midfielder Leandro Paredes.
Argentina, also champion in 1978 and 1986, will play its first group stage match on June 16 against Algeria in Kansas City. Next up in Group J are Austria on June 22 and Jordan on June 27 in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas.
Scaloni is relying on 17 of the 26 players who won the World Cup in 2022, even though several are not in peak physical condition.
“Why change them if they dont deserve that? Weve always been honest with them. The players who are here today have shown us they want to be here. And secondly, their level hasnt dropped,” Scaloni said.
Argentina won the Copa América in 2024 and finished top of the South American World Cup qualifying group.
Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez is key to Scalonis attack, while Barcelona, Arsenal, and PSG are reportedly vying for his signature for next season. The coach has also brought in three debutants: midfielder Va
