Italy and Brazil have won successive World Cup titles, but nobody has done it since 1962. Can Lionel Messi lead Argentina to glory once again?
Argentina arrive at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in a unique position: they are both the defending world champions and expected to contend once again.
Since lifting the trophy in Qatar, Lionel Scaloni’s side have maintained an exceptional level of consistency. Argentina won the 2024 Copa América in the United States, claimed the 2024 Finalissima and finished comfortably at the top of the highly competitive CONMEBOL qualifying standings.
Despite those achievements, a few key issues surround La Albiceleste ahead of this summer’s tournament. Here, we’ve looked at seven of the most important.
A Lack of Tests Against Elite Opposition
The first concern regards the strength of Argentina’s opposition during this World Cup cycle. Beyond their encounters with South America’s leading teams, the reigning world champions have rarely faced elite European nations or up-and-coming international sides such as Morocco or Japan.
Although a similar pattern emerged before Qatar 2022, it has been more extreme this time around, with Argentina’s non-competitive schedule featuring opponents such as Puerto Rico, Zambia and Mauritania, matches that provided little test and very limited insight into how the team might perform against top-level opposition.
Fitness Concerns Among Key Players
The physical condition of several influential members of the squad is in question with only a few days left before the tournament begins.
Members of the core group that helped secure the 2022 World Cup title (including Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul have been playing at club level.
Both players have left elite European environments behind for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer. While MLS continues to grow in quality and profile, the league still operates at a different intensity and competitive level compared to Europe’s top competitions.
The contrast is visible in Opta’s performance metrics.
During Messi’s final season at Paris Saint-Germain, the French club ranked fifth in the Opta Power Rankings. By June 2026, Inter Miami rank 89th in the Opta Power Rankings.
Messi’s numbers suggest he continues to perform at an elite individual level, with 19 goal involvements (12 goals, seven assists) in 14 MLS games this season, having got 58 (35 goals, 23 assists) in 34 games last season. However, the World Cup will provide a clearer indication of how that dominance translates against international opposition.
There is also a tactical difference between how he plays at club and international level. At Inter Miami, Messi operates closer to the opposition goal than he did during Argentina’s victorious 2022 World Cup campaign.
Managing Messi’s Workload
According to Opta Vision data, Messi averaged 13 sprints per 90 minutes during the 2024 Copa América.
That figure represented a significant increase compared to both his Qatar 2022 numbers and his recent MLS averages. The increased physical demands appeared to take a toll, as Messi suffered an injury during the final and was forced to leave the field in tears.
Argentina nevertheless secured the title, with the squad demonstrating an ability to win without their biggest star.
That theme resurfaced during World Cup qualifying, most notably in Argentina’s dominant victory over Brazil, arguably their strongest performance of the cycle, which was achieved, once again, without Messi.
For a team preparing for life after their captain, those performances may prove highly significant.
Continuity Remains Scaloni’s Guiding Principle
Scaloni’s 2026 squad reflects the continuity that has characterised his tenure.
Several players who were integral to the cycle but missed Qatar through injury, including Giuliano Simeone has adapted quickly to Argentina’s pressing and transitional style, offering energy and tactical discipline from the front.
José Manuel “Flaco” López brings a different profile to the forward line, providing a physical penalty-box presence that complements Argentina’s existing attacking options.
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