Atletico Madrid · CONMEBOL Libertadores · Attacker · #9 · Argentina · 25 yrs
Starting the competition as the reigning champions, Lionel Messi's Argentina will be heading to the 2026 World Cup with the task to be the first back-to-back winners in 64 years. Lionel Messi is headed to a record-breaking sixth career World Cup, but 2026 brings uncharted territory. For the first time, he carries the immense weight of defending the crown Argentina won back in 2022. While the Albiceleste enter the tournament as heavy betting favorites, history is working against them: only an elite, microscopic tier of footballing nations have ever managed to win back-to-back titles. On Day 6 of the 2026 World Cup this Tuesday, June 16, Argentina formally kicks off its campaign against Algeria. The reigning champions enter the match nursing several key injuries, none more devastating than star forward Julian Alvarez, while defender Marcos Senesi was a late addition to the roster to replace the injured Leonardo Balerdi. Messi’s path forward features a Matchday 2 clash against Austria on Monday, June 22, before wrapping up group play against tournament debutants Jordan on Saturday, June 27. Should they top Group G, the Albiceleste would face the runner-up of Group H—a brutal crossover that could potentially draw a powerhouse like Spain or Uruguay in the Round of 32, ensuring a treacherous road if they hope to pull off the repeat. Last back-to-back World Cup champion The last national team to successfully defend its World Cup title was Brazil, a historic feat that has incredibly gone unmatched for 64 years. In Sweden 1958, a 17-year-old Pele famously took the world by storm, scoring in the final to claim the trophy over the hosts in a 5-2 rout. Four years later at Chile 1962, Pele was hobbled by an early injury, but the Selecao still rallied to hoist the world championship once again. FIFA World Cup Trophy. In fact, the consecutive-title club is the most exclusive fraternity in international sports. The only country outside of Brazil to secure back-to-back World Cups is Italy, who actually became the first nation to achieve the milestone with triumphs in the 1934 and 1938 tournaments. Since Brazil’s historic repeat in 1962, 15 iterations of the tournament have come and gone with the feat remaining completely untouched. That doesn’t mean dominant teams haven’t come agonizingly close, however; several heavyweights marched all the way to the precipice of a repeat before falling at the final hurdle. Brazil itself missed out on what would have been a staggering three-peat. After capturing the title in 1994, they reached the final again at France 1998, only to be thoroughly dismantled 3-0 by the host nation, spoiling both the repeat and their eventual 2002 championship run. The most recent heartbreak belongs to France. After conquering the world in Russia in 2018, Les Bleus stormed back to the final at Qatar 2022, only to lose a thrilling, breathless penalty shootout to Lionel Messi’s Argentina. Argentina has also stared down this exact historical ghost before, meeting the same tragic fate. Driven by the sheer brilliance of Diego Maradona, Argentina captured its second star in 1986 and pushed all the way to the final at Italia ’90, only to suffer a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat to West Germany. Now, Messi and company get their shot at breaking soccer’s modern 64-year curse.
Full preview of Argentina for the 2026 World Cup, including squad breakdown, key players, and tactical analysis of their chances. The reigning champions Argentina arrive in North America looking to accomplish a feat not seen since 1962: defending their global crown. Argentina enters the 2026 World Cup as a resilient, battle-tested squad. Under head coach Lionel Scaloni, the South American giants have transformed from a team carrying the weight of historical expectations into a ruthless winning machine. While Lionel Messi remains the focal point, the Argentina 2026 World Cup squad boasts impressive depth and tactical flexibility. Expectations are sky-high following their dominant qualifying campaign. This World Cup 2026 team preview breaks down the tactical approach, coaching philosophy, and overall squad depth that could define their title defense. Team profile CoachLionel ScaloniCaptainLionel MessiNicknameLa Selección, La AlbicelesteFIFA ranking3rdConfederationCONMEBOLGroupGroup JBest World Cup resultWinners (1978, 1986, 2022)World Cup appearances19Last World Cup appearance2022 (Winners) How Argentina play Our Argentina tactical analysis reveals a fluid side that adapts seamlessly to the opponent. The Argentina formation frequently shifts between a 4-3-3 and a 4-4-2, depending on the game state.In possession, the team relies on a compact, highly technical midfield to control the tempo. Argentina key players like Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernández, and Rodrigo De Paul dictate the rhythm, allowing Messi the freedom to drift into dangerous pockets of space. Defensively, the squad is exceptionally disciplined. During their recent qualifying campaign, they restricted opponents to an average of just 6.56 shots per match. That defensive solidity resulted in just 10 goals conceded across 18 games. When transitioning into the attack, La Albiceleste utilizes the pace of Julián Alvarez and the finishing instincts of Lautaro Martínez. Their ability to strike quickly on the counter makes them dangerous against high-pressing teams. However, coach Scaloni does not usually play them together. This balanced tactical approach ensures the team remains difficult to break down while possessing the firepower to punish any mistakes. Lionel Scaloni: The coach behind Argentina Lionel Scaloni took charge of the national team in 2018 under heavy skepticism due to his lack of senior coaching experience. Since then, he has orchestrated one of the most successful eras in the country’s soccer history. The former right-back guided his nation to three major international trophies, ending a 28-year drought. His leadership style is grounded in emotional intelligence and pragmatism. Rather than forcing players into a rigid system, the Argentina coach builds his setup around the squad’s strengths. He has successfully fostered a relaxed, unified locker room, removing the intense pressure that previously hindered the team. Scaloni’s ability to manage egos and adapt his strategy mid-game will be crucial for navigating the challenges of the 2026 tournament. Key player: Lionel Messi Messi remains the heartbeat of the national team. Now operating primarily as a playmaker, the Inter Miami star continues to dictate the flow of the game in the final third. Despite stepping away from European club soccer, the veteran forward has maintained exceptional form. He tallied eight goals and three assists during the South American qualifiers, proving his decisive edge remains intact. Lionel Messi of Argentina (Getty Images). Entering the tournament with 117 international goals in 199 appearances, his experience and composure are irreplaceable. The team’s tactical setup is explicitly designed to maximize his creative output. If Messi suffers an injury, Scaloni would be forced to adjust his approach, either by replacing the captain with Nicolás Paz in a similar role or by tweaking the system to accommodate both Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez in the starting lineup. Argentina’
Luciana Alvarengue likes to think she had the smallest of influences on two of her old pupils as they take aim at another World CupFor all Argentinians, sitting down to watch the 2022 World Cup final was special – but for Luciana Alvarengue there was additional emotion. In the Argentina side were not one but two players to whom she had taught maths at school: Enzo Fernández and Julián Álvarez.“They are still my students, even if they are no longer in the classroom,” she says. “To see it with my son telling me: ‘Mamá, there are your students’ … that’s really nice.” Continue reading...
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Mexico managed to demonstrate their individual quality and collective brilliance, defeating South Korea 2-0. Despite this, head coach Javier Aguirre revealed that he was frustrated with the team's performance and justified César Montes' red card, explaining an issue within the team. Demonstrating their individual quality, Mexico managed to defeat South Africa. To do this, Julián Quiñones emerged as a key figure, being the central axis of the offensive side. Along with this, they managed to constantly press their opponent, leaving them without ideas throughout the game. Despite this, head coach Javier Aguirre was very critical, making known the aspects he did not like and defending César Montes over his red card. “The game was expected to be 4-0…the nerves were a huge problem… I didn’t like the first half. They had the ball a lot. One more goal should have come. The sending-off of (César) Montes complicated things a bit. We lost the ball up front in a naïve way that irritates me. Then César had to take the risk,” Mexico‘s Javier Aguirre said in the post-game interview. Despite Mexico’s victory, there were several phases of the match that were quite evenly contested, something that did not please the head coach. With South Korea as their next opponent in the 2026 World Cup, they are looking for a much more dominant performance, especially in midfield, where they were unable to establish superiority. In addition, the defensive gaps were exploited by their opponents, something that could prove costly against the Asian side. César Montes’ red card did not destabilize Mexico’s victory, but it does expose defensive issues ahead of the match against South Korea. With their high press, they gain control, but they also leave space behind their defense, allowing quick teams to shine. Because of this, the 29-year-old defender’s red card exposes how fragile their stability can be against a dribbling, fast, and clinical team like the Asian side, their next opponent. Cesar Montes #3 of Mexico is tackled by Khuliso Mudau #20 of South Africa. Head coach Aguirre picks Montes replacement for South Korea game Even though Mexico managed to secure their first victory at the 2026 World Cup, they now have to face one of the toughest opponents in their group: South Korea. Without César Montes as the leader of the defensive line, they could struggle more than expected. While they have Luis Romo as a quality alternative, head coach Javier Aguirre has chosen Edson Álvarez as his replacement in central defense. “After César (Montes)’ red card, it is very likely that Edson (Álvarez) will play as a center-back,” said Aguirre in the latest press conference. With the 28-year-old star, they would gain incredible ball progression, defensive solidity, and brilliant tactical awareness. Although he does not arrive with much competitive rhythm from Fenerbahçe, he already impressed in the limited minutes he played and could do so again against South Korea.
