Lionel Messi’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been a hot topic as the Argentine captain will be 39 when the tournament begins. His recent injury issues and missed national team appearances have raised questions about whether coach Lionel Scaloni will include him in the squad as Argentina defends its crown.
In a recent interview with La Nacional, Angel Di Maria, Messi’s long-time teammate and former Real Madrid star, gave a passionate response when asked about Messi’s chances of featuring in the competition.
“Yes, yes. No matter his condition or form, Leo has to be in the World Cup. He is unique, he inspires the team, and he excites the fans. Just like when Diego Maradona played, Messi has that aura. They are from another world,” Di Maria expressed.
He further added, “Leo is not just a footballer; he is an alien, a phenomenon. We cannot waste the chance to keep watching him. I had never followed MLS before, but now I have a season ticket just to watch Inter Miami play because of Messi.”
Messi recently made his comeback from injury, coming off the bench to score in Inter Miami’s 3-1 victory against LA Galaxy. He also assisted Luis Suarez for the team’s third goal, once again proving his influence on the pitch.
Speaking about Messi’s workload, head coach Javier Mascherano admitted that the veteran sometimes needs to slow down. “Leo always wants to play. He even asked for minutes against Orlando. He feels happiest when he is on the pitch, but at times we have to manage his fitness carefully. He understands his body better than anyone, and it’s about preparing him for the challenges ahead,” Mascherano explained.
Argentina fans worldwide continue to hope that Messi will be part of the squad in the United States, Canada, and Mexico in 2026, aiming to defend the World Cup title he helped secure in Qatar with a legendary performance.