Argentina Name 55-Man Preliminary Squad for World Cup Title Defence, Messi Included

Argentina are set to begin their bid to defend the World Cup title in mid-June, with one of the biggest talking points being whether Lionel Messi will feature once again. The Argentine superstar has yet to confirm his participation, but he has been named in the national team’s latest 55-man preliminary squad.

Messi, who will turn 38 during the tournament, made his World Cup debut as a 19-year-old and has since appeared in five editions. He captained Argentina to glory at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, scoring in the final against France at the age of 35. His decision regarding a potential sixth World Cup appearance has remained undecided.

His inclusion in the preliminary list offers hope to fans eager to see the iconic forward grace the world stage once more.

Another notable name in the squad is Benfica’s **Valentín Barco** (or the player referred to in reports as the one facing suspension), who has been handed a six-match ban for homophobic and racist comments. If selected in the final squad, he will miss the first two group-stage matches. The midfielder was heavily sanctioned following an incident in which he allegedly insulted Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior during a UEFA Champions League encounter.

The 55-man preliminary squad will be trimmed to the final 26-player roster ahead of the tournament.