(foto: Getty Images)
Lionel Messi's teammate, Alexis Mac Allister, is confident that Messi will play for Argentina at the 2026 World Cup, despite previous indications to the contrary.
Lionel Messi might play for Argentina at the 2026 World Cup. This has been a hot topic for some time and will continue to be. All of Argentina is hoping their star player will feature in the national team at the World Cup, and one of his teammates is convinced it will happen.
Lionel Messi capped his extraordinary international career with stardom at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he led Argentina to the world champion title, adding the cherry on top of his already illustrious personal achievements.
Since then, he has also helped his country win the Copa America. Currently, he is dealing with an ankle injury that has kept him sidelined from playing for Inter Miami in the MLS.
Messi had previously indicated that he was unlikely to play in another World Cup, but more recently, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner has been more cautious in his predictions. This has fueled hope, especially among his national teammates.
"My opinion is that Messi will play at the 2026 World Cup. I get that feeling when I read and listen to his statements in the media, and also from his attitude every time he joins the national team. I have no doubt he can play in the next big tournament. But it’s a very personal decision, and he won't make it anytime soon. A lot will depend on how he feels," said Alexis Mac Allister, Argentina national team member and Liverpool player.
Argentina has shown in the past that they can win without Messi, and they will need to try again in the upcoming matches against Chile and Colombia in the World Cup qualifying campaign.