Argentina are the world champions and they are back to defend their title.
They arrive at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the back of one of the greatest eras in Argentine football history — a 2022 World Cup, back-to-back Copa América titles, and a squad that may be even deeper than the one that lifted the trophy in Qatar.
Under Lionel Scaloni, who has managed Argentina since 2018, they qualified comfortably through CONMEBOL, topping the South American table and confirming their place with matches to spare in March 2025.
If Scaloni guides them to a second consecutive World Cup, he would become the first manager to win back-to-back tournaments since Italy’s Vittorio Pozzo in 1934 and 1938.
Argentina are in Group J alongside Algeria, Austria, and Jordan.
They open against Algeria on June 18 and are the tournament favourites.
Here are the 10 best soccer players from Argentina at the 2026 World Cup.
1. Lionel Messi — Forward (Captain)
Position: Forward/Playmaker
Age: 38 | Club: Inter Miami (USA)
There is nothing left to say about Lionel Messi that has not already been said.
With 199 caps and 117 international goals, he is the most decorated player in the history of football — an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner who is rivalling Maradona as Argentina’s greatest ever player.
Just four days before the tournament began, Messi came off the bench against Iceland and became the oldest goalscorer in Argentina’s history, breaking a record that had stood for 69 years.
He is also the first player ever to appear in six World Cups.
At 38, he turns 39 during the tournament itself, on June 24, between Argentina’s second and third group games.
He operates with complete freedom in Scaloni’s 4-3-3, dropping deep, creating, and still producing the decisive moments when they are needed most.
He is the greatest of all time and he is taking one final run at back-to-back world titles.
He is one of the best soccer players of all time, the holder of every individual award football has to offer, and the most important player at this entire tournament.
2. Lautaro Martínez — Forward
Position: Striker
Age: 28 | Club: Inter Milan (Italy)
Lautaro Martínez is Argentina’s most clinical striker and the player who carries the goalscoring burden when Messi drops deeper to create.
He finished as Argentina’s top scorer in World Cup qualifying with 9 goals, and was the top scorer at the 2024 Copa América, cementing his place as one of the best forwards in world football.
With 37 international goals in 77 caps, he has also drawn level with Diego Maradona as Argentina’s fifth all-time scorer.
His pressing intensity, link-up play, and penalty-box instinct make him one of the most complete strikers in the world.
He is one of the best strikers in world football and one of the most feared forwards at this World Cup.
3. Julián Álvarez — Forward
Position: Forward
Age: 26 | Club: Atlético Madrid (Spain)
Julián Álvarez was one of the heroes of Qatar 2022, scoring four goals including two in the semi-final victory over Croatia.
He has since moved from Manchester City to Atlético Madrid under Diego Simeone, where his relentless pressing, movement, and clinical finishing have made him one of the most dangerous forwards in La Liga.
With 14 international goals in 51 caps, he gives Scaloni a completely different threat from the more static Lautaro — capable of playing wide, through the middle, or as a deep-lying forward.
He scored in Argentina’s 5-0 friendly win over Zambia in March 2026, arriving at the tournament in form.
He is one of the best finishers Argentina have had since Messi and one of the fittest and most relentless forwards at this World Cup.
4. Emiliano Martínez — Goalkeeper
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 33 | Club: Aston Villa (England)
Emiliano Martínez, known as “Dibu,” is one of the most important players in Argentina’s recent dominance — not just for his shot-stopping, but for his psychological impact in penalty shootouts.
He saved multiple spot-kicks in the 2022 World Cup final against France, won the Golden Glove, and has become one of the most feared goalkeepers in the world in high-pressure moments.
At Aston Villa, he remains one of the best Premier League goalkeepers.
With 59 caps, he is Argentina’s undisputed number one and the calm authority behind the most decorated squad in world football.
He is one of the best goalkeepers in the world and one of the best penalty specialists at any position the game has produced.
5. Alexis Mac Allister — Midfielder
Position: Midfielder
Age: 27 | Club: Liverpool (England)
Alexis Mac Allister is one of the most important midfielders in Scaloni’s system and a player who has developed into one of the best central midfielders in the Premier League at Liverpool.
He won the Premier League title with Liverpool in 2025/26 and brings exceptional technical quality, pressing intensity, and the ability to drive forward from deep.
With 46 caps and 6 international goals, he was a key figure in Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph and has only improved since.
He is one of the best midfielders in the world right now and one of the best passers in Argentina’s squad.
6. Rodrigo De Paul — Midfielder
Position: Midfielder
Age: 32 | Club: Inter Miami (USA)
Rodrigo De Paul is Messi’s midfield partner at Inter Miami and the engine of Argentina’s midfield press.
He covers enormous ground, wins the ball, and drives Argentina’s transition play with a relentless energy that makes the whole team function.
With 87 caps and the experience of winning the World Cup in Qatar, he is one of the most important players in the squad even when he does not make the headlines.
He is one of the most decorated box-to-box midfielders South America has produced in his generation.
7. Enzo Fernández — Midfielder
Position: Midfielder
Age: 25 | Club: Chelsea (England)
Enzo Fernández won the Young Player of the Tournament award at the 2022 World Cup and has been one of the most heavily scrutinised players in European football since his £107 million move to Chelsea — one of the most expensive transfers in history.
With 42 caps and 6 international goals, he gives Scaloni creativity, forward carries, and a directness from central midfield that complements Mac Allister and De Paul.
He gives Argentina the most expensive midfield trio at the 2026 World Cup.
He is one of the best young midfielders in world football and a player who is determined to justify every pound of that transfer fee on the biggest stage.
8. Cristian Romero — Defender
Position: Centre-Back
Age: 28 | Club: Tottenham Hotspur (England)
Cristian Romero is Argentina’s most aggressive and physically dominant centre-back and one of the best defenders in the Premier League at Tottenham Hotspur.
He is combative, quick, and excellent at reading the game, and his aggression alongside the technically superior Lisandro Martínez gives Argentina a centre-back partnership that is very difficult to play against.
With 51 caps, 3 international goals, and a World Cup winner’s medal, he arrives at this tournament at the peak of his powers.
He is one of the most aggressive and combative defenders at this World Cup and one of the best defenders in Argentina’s history.
9. Lisandro Martínez — Defender
Position: Centre-Back
Age: 28 | Club: Manchester United (England)
Lisandro Martínez is Argentina’s ball-playing centre-back and one of the best defenders in the Premier League when fully fit.
The Manchester United defender is left-footed, technically exceptional, and brings a composure and vision from defence that allows Argentina to build from the back under pressure.
With 28 caps, he has been a key part of Scaloni’s defensive evolution and partners Romero in the centre of the back four.
He is one of the best left-footed centre-backs in world football and the technical defensive heart of this Argentina side.
10. Nico Paz — Midfielder/Forward
Position: Attacking Midfielder
Age: 21 | Club: Como (Italy)
Nico Paz is the most exciting young player in this Argentina squad and one of the stories of the entire 2026 World Cup.
He is a Real Madrid academy product — the son of former Real Madrid player David Paz — who joined Como in Serie A and has been outstanding, earning a call-up to Scaloni’s squad on the back of performances that have made him one of the most talked-about young players in Italian football.
At just 21, he carries the weight of enormous expectation, but his natural talent, vision, and technical ability suggest he is ready.
He is one of the most exciting generational talents in South American football and one of the best players under 25 at this tournament.
Conclusion
Argentina arrive at the 2026 FIFA World Cup as world champions, tournament favourites, and the most complete squad in international football.
Messi leads them for what is almost certainly the final time.
The midfield of Mac Allister, De Paul, and Fernández is the best in world football.
And Lautaro, Álvarez, and Messi in attack give them a front three capable of beating anyone on any given day.
Argentina have won the World Cup three times.
If Messi lifts it again in 2026, the debate about the greatest player of all time ends forever.
Other players worth watching include Thiago Almada, Nahuel Molina, Nicolás Otamendi, and Giuliano Simeone.
Who do you think will be Argentina’s standout player at the 2026 World Cup? Let us know in the comments!
