Argentina are among the favourites to win World Cup 2026, as the defending champions aim to retain their crown in North America. They have certainly made a powerful statement in winning all three groups, with Lionel Messi scoring a remarkable six goals.Messi – having just turned 39 – has now surpassed Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup scoring record of 16 goals. Messi added his 17th and 18th in the 2-0 win over Austria, then a 19th off the bench against Jordan. The Albiceleste have looked every bit the favourites they’re billed as, with Lionel Scaloni’s 4-4-2 purring.The core of the 2022 World Cup-winning group remains intact, with 17 of that squad having been called up again. The only notable absentee is Ángel Di María, who has retired from international football.Argentina had already clinched first place after winning their first two games, so they were able to rotate against Jordan, and focus on having Messi and their heavy hitters fresh for the Round of 32 – which is against another World Cup debutant, Cape Verde, who caused the shock of the tournament so far in holding Spain to a goalless draw.Argentina World Cup 2026 squad and lineup: key takeawaysMessi has made history, but Mbappé is still chasing him: The magician’s treble against Algeria moved him level with Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup scoring record of 16 goals. Then, days later, two more goals moved him into the lead. Messi and Mbappé are on six goals apiece ahead of Argentina’s first knockout tie.Julián Álvarez is pushing for a start: Lautaro Martínez started the first two games, but Álvarez could be unleashed in the knockout stages having linked up well with Messi in the past. With Messi being rested for (most of) the Jordan game, both Álvarex and Martínez started.The midfield picks itself: Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández and Alexis Mac Allister are established as Scaloni’s trusted trio in the middle of the park, providing the energy and control to facilitate Messi.Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina legacyArgentina hired Lionel Scaloni as their interim manager after World Cup 2018, a tournament which ended in failure for the Albiceleste.He was supposed to be in charge for just a few months until Argentina found someone else, but Scaloni ended up landing the job on a full-time basis – despite doubts from some prominent figures in Argentinian football, not least the late Diego Maradona.Scaloni has worked wonders since then. World Cup 2022 was his crowning glory, but the former West Ham United defender has also led Argentina to two Copa America titles. It is hard to quibble with his record.Prediction for Head CoachThere is a sense that this will be Scaloni’s final tournament with Argentina, regardless of what happens in North America. He will be determined to go out with a bang by becoming only the second manager in history to win two World Cups.The star player: Lionel MessiLionel Messi will turn 39 during the World Cup and while he may not have the electric acceleration he once had, he is showing no signs of slowing down in a numbers sense! He has been lethal in the final third and has just been a class above so far.For all the talent available to Scaloni, Messi remains the talisman – and that is unlikely to change given that he has scored an incredible six goals in three games so far.Prediction for Star PlayerLionel Messi is the leading contender to win the Golden Ball and the Golden Boot, the awards given to the tournament’s best player and its top scorer respectively. Even if Messi ultimately falls short in pursuit of both those honours, he remains the man to whom Argentina will look for inspiration.Argentina 2026 World Cup confirmed 26-man squadPlayer NamePositionClubEmiliano MartinezGKAston VillaJuan MussoGKAtlético MadridGeronimo RulliGKMarseilleLisandro MartinezDEFManchester UnitedFacundo MedinaDEFMarseilleNahuel MolinaDEFAtlético MadridGonzalo MontielDEFRiver PlateNicolás OtamendiDEFBenficaCristian RomeroDEFTottenhamMarcos SenesiDEFTottenhamNicolás TagliaficoDEFLyonValentín BarcoMIDStrasbourgEnzo FernándezMIDChelseaRodrigo De PaulMIDInter MiamiGiovani Lo CelsoMIDReal BetisAlexis Mac AllisterMIDLiverpoolExequiel PalaciosMIDBayer LeverkusenLeandro ParedesMIDBoca JuniorsThiago AlmadaFWDAtlético MadridJulián AlvarezFWDAtlético MadridNicolas GonzálezFWDAtlético MadridJose Manuel LópezFWDPalmeirasLautaro MartínezFWDInter MilanLionel MessiFWDInter MiamiNico PazFWDComoGiuliano SimeoneFWDAtlético MadridHow Argentina lined up against AustriaWith Scaloni making a number of changes – what with Argentina having clinched top spot in the group – against Jordan, the lineup against Austria in matchday 2 provides a closer reflection of what we can expect to see for the upcoming knockout games.The right back position is still something of a problem, with Gonzalo Montiel managing a knock picked up against Algeria. Both he and Nahuel Molina are vying to start against Cape Verde.PositionExpert selectionGoalkeeperEmiliano MartinezRight-BackNahuel MolinaCentre-BackCristian RomeroCentre-BackLisandro MartinezLeft-BackFacundo MedinaRight MidfielderRodrigo De PaulCentral MidfielderAlexis Mac AllisterCentral MidfielderEnzo FernándezLeft MidfielderThiago AlmadaStrikerLautaro MartinezLeft-WingerLionel Messi (c) I would anticipate Scaloni reuniting Messi with Álvarez soon. The pair started together throughout Argentina’s winning run in 2022. The first-choice midfield and back line look as though they’re locked in, except at right back.How to bet on the Argentina starting 11Lionel Messi is the obvious favourite in the anytime goalscorer market. Julián Álvarez is an intriguing option if he starts Argentina’s next game(s). His movement and pressing make him a constant threat, and he offers value in the anytime goalscorer market if priced longer than Messi.For cards, Rodrigo De Paul and Enzo Fernández are the most likely Argentina players to pick up bookings, given their combative midfield roles and Scaloni’s high-intensity pressing system. Backing these individual player props is an excellent way to deploy any tournament betting offers you have sitting in your account.Is there a chance of Argentina winning?As defending champions, and with Messi, the odds of winning World Cup are never small. After two one-sided games in groups they have shown that they are strongly in the mix for the WC title.FAQ about the 2026 Argentina World Cup squad1. How many times have Argentina won the World Cup?Argentina have won the World Cup three times in their history, which means only Brazil, Italy and Germany have been more successful on the biggest stage of all. Their maiden triumph came on home soil in 1978, before Diego Maradona inspired them to victory in 1986.Argentina’s most recent success came in 2022, as Lionel Messi drove them to the title in Qatar.2. Which players are injured and missing from the starting 11?Cristian Romero was a fitness concern prior to Argentina’s first game, but he started in central defence.Gonzalo Montiel has been ruled out of the next game with a hamstring injury. Marcos Senesi was called up in place of Leonardo Balerdi, with the latter suffering a late calf injury.About the authorGreg LeaGreg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootballCommercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. 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