TL;DR
- Messi, 38, is in Argentina’s preliminary 55-man squad for the 2026 World Cup and is set for a record sixth tournament appearance (ESPN, 2026).
- He enters the tournament with 13 World Cup goals and 26 appearances – both all-time records for a male player (The Daily Star, 2026).
- He needs 4 more goals to overtake Miroslav Klose’s all-time record of 16 World Cup goals (Olympics.com, 2025).
- His 2026 MLS form is strong: 11 goals and 5 assists in 12 appearances for Inter Miami, including 4 goals and 4 assists across his last three matches (MLS Soccer, 2026).
- Argentina open their title defense on June 16 in Kansas City against Algeria, then face Austria and Jordan in Group J (whereig.com, 2026).
Who Is Messi at the 2026 World Cup?
Messi, 38, is in Argentina’s preliminary 55-man squad for the 2026 World Cup. He captains the defending champions as they attempt to win back-to-back titles for the first time since Brazil in 1958 and 1962. ESPN
With more World Cup appearances (26) than any male player, Messi is set for a record sixth tournament in North America. It could be the final one for the 38-year-old, who is three goals shy of the record World Cup goal tally of 16. Olympics
He plays club football for Inter Miami in MLS, having become the league’s fastest player to reach 100 regular-season goal contributions, doing so in just 64 matches. Yahoo Sports
Messi’s World Cup Record by Tournament
At 35 years old in his fifth World Cup appearance, Messi finally claimed the trophy that had eluded him throughout his career. He didn’t just win it – he rewrote the record books in the process. Surprise Sports
Here is how his record breaks down across all five tournaments:
| Tournament | Appearances | Goals | Assists | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany 2006 | 3 | 1 | 0 | QF exit |
| South Africa 2010 | 5 | 0 | 1 | QF exit |
| Brazil 2014 | 7 | 4 | 1 | Final (lost) |
| Russia 2018 | 4 | 1 | 1 | R16 exit |
| Qatar 2022 | 7 | 7 | 3 | Winner |
| Total | 26 | 13 | 8 | – |
Sources: The Daily Star, 2026; Yahoo Sports, 2022
Messi has played at every World Cup since 2006 and is set to be on the plane once more for this year’s tournament, which is being co-hosted in the US, Mexico, and Canada. LBC
The Records Messi Already Owns at the World Cup
Messi holds more individual World Cup records than any other player in history. The full picture:
Most appearances (male): Messi’s 26th World Cup appearance came in the 2022 final, making him the player with the most matches played in World Cup history. The previous record belonged to Germany’s Lothar Matthaus, who played 25. The Daily Star
Most combined goal contributions since 1966: Messi’s 21 total World Cup goal contributions (13 goals, 8 assists) are the most by a man at the tournament since 1966. Surprise Sports
Most assists across different tournaments: Messi is the only player in history to register assists in five different World Cups. His closest challengers are Pele, Grzegorz Lato, Diego Maradona, and David Beckham, each of whom provided assists in three editions. The Daily Star
Most Man of the Match awards: Messi holds the record for the most Man of the Match awards (11) in World Cup history, picking up the award in 42% of his appearances. He achieved the accolade in five of his seven appearances (71%) at Qatar 2022. Surprise Sports
Most successful dribbles: Messi has completed 121 successful dribbles, the most ever recorded in World Cup history. The Daily Star
Only player to score in every stage of a single tournament: Messi’s spot-kick in the 2022 final made him the first player to score in the group stage, round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final at the same World Cup. Yahoo Sports
Two-time Golden Ball winner: Messi became the first player to win the Golden Ball award multiple times, claiming it in Argentina’s runner-up finish in 2014 and again after winning the whole thing in 2022. Surprise Sports
The Record He Still Chases: Klose’s 16 Goals
The one record Messi doesn’t yet own is the most important one on the goalscoring list.
Germany’s Miroslav Klose, with 16 goals from 24 matches, is the highest scorer in World Cup history. Before Messi, Gabriel Batistuta (10 goals from 12 matches) was Argentina’s most prolific scorer at FIFA World Cups. Olympics
Messi is three goals shy of that all-time record tally of 16. He has never scored fewer than one goal at a tournament, and scored seven in Qatar 2022 alone. If Argentina reach the semi-finals, he will likely get enough games to challenge it. Olympics
For context: only Kylian Mbappe (eight goals, 2022) and Ronaldo (eight goals, 2002) have scored more goals in a single World Cup than Messi’s seven in Qatar, going back to 1974. Surprise Sports
Messi’s Pre-Tournament Form in 2026
Fitness questions followed Messi for much of his first two years at Inter Miami. Those questions look answered now.
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup less than a month away, Messi is in scorching form for Inter Miami. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner now has 11 goals and 5 assists this season, leads the league in goal contributions, and is one goal off the Golden Boot lead. MLSsoccer.com
In his last three MLS games, Messi put up 4 goals and 4 assists. It all started on May 2: Inter Miami lost to Orlando City 3-4 despite leading 3-0, with Messi contributing a goal and an assist. In the next game on May 9 against Toronto, the side bounced back with a 4-2 win, and Messi delivered one goal and two assists while reaching his MLS milestone. Telecomasia
He and Argentina teammate Rodrigo De Paul have also been running a private double-training regime for several months. De Paul confirmed: “Between two and three months ago, we have had a training plan beyond what we do at the club and the two of us kill ourselves to reach the best physical shape.” Goal.com
The concern about playing in MLS rather than a top European league remains a fair one. The football calendar in the US means that Messi will be short on competitive action by the time the 2026 World Cup rolls around, unlike rivals that will have completed another gruelling domestic and continental schedule in Europe. But his output across 12 MLS matches this season makes it hard to argue he is short of sharpness. goal
Argentina’s Group J Schedule and Path
Argentina opens their Group J schedule against Algeria on June 16 in Kansas City, then faces Austria and Jordan. Where is Iran?
Argentina have won the FIFA World Cup three times – in 1978, 1986, and most recently Qatar 2022 – and arrive in 2026 as defending champions with Messi captaining the side at a record-extending sixth tournament. Where is Iran?
The squad retains most of the Qatar 2022 core. Angel Di Maria, who retired in 2024, is the only player from Argentina’s 2022 World Cup final starting lineup not included on the roster, highlighting the continuity in Lionel Scaloni’s approach. Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez lead the attack alongside Messi. Alvarez scored four goals in the victorious Qatar campaign. Yahoo SportsESPN
Common Questions About Messi at the 2026 World Cup
Is Messi confirmed for the 2026 World Cup?
Messi is in Argentina’s preliminary 55-man squad for the 2026 World Cup, though he has yet to formally confirm his participation. His current form for Inter Miami makes his inclusion in the final 26-man roster near-certain. The final squad announcement is expected between May 28 and May 29, with all 48 squads due before the May 30 deadline. ESPNBolavip
How many World Cup goals has Messi scored?
Messi has scored 13 World Cup goals across five tournaments. He needs 4 more to match Miroslav Klose’s all-time record of 16 (Olympics.com, 2025).
How many World Cup appearances has Messi made?
Messi has made 26 World Cup appearances, the most of any male player in history. He set the record in the 2022 final in Qatar, overtaking Lothar Matthaus’s previous mark of 25. The Daily Star
How old is Messi at the 2026 World Cup?
Messi turned 38 in June 2025. He will be 39 by the time the final is played. LBC
Which club does Messi play for in 2026?
Messi plays for Inter Miami in MLS. He signed a contract extension in 2025 that keeps him at the club until the end of the 2028 MLS season. FIFA World Cup News
What group is Argentina in at the 2026 World Cup?
Argentina is in Group J, where they face Algeria, Austria, and Jordan. Their opening match is on June 16 in Kansas City. Where is Iran?
Has Messi won the World Cup before?
Yes. Messi won the 2022 FIFA World Cup with Argentina in Qatar, where he scored 7 goals and added 3 assists across 7 matches, winning the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player (Surprise Sports, 2026).
Key Takeaways
- Messi enters the 2026 World Cup with 13 goals and 26 appearances – both all-time records among male players.
- He needs 4 more goals to break Miroslav Klose’s all-time record of 16 World Cup goals.
- His 2026 MLS form (11 goals, 5 assists in 12 games) is the strongest pre-tournament case he has made in years.
- Argentina play in Group J, opening June 16 against Algeria in Kansas City.
- At 38 – and 39 by the final – this is almost certainly his last World Cup.
