The FIFA World Cup 2026 is approaching, with one of the most ambitious hosting schedules to date. As 48 teams head for the event, one question has been on the minds of soccer fans: Is Lionel Messi playing in the World Cup 2026? The simple answer is: he might be. The Inter Miami CF captain, who is reportedly earning around $70m to $80m from his career with the Herons, has not officially confirmed any participation. He has helped Argentina score eight goals during the qualifiers, however.
Is Messi playing in the World Cup 2026? What we know so far
As of the time of writing this article, Lionel Messihas not officially confirmed that he will be making a return during the upcoming World Cup 2026. He has helped his team push through to the grand event, having contributed 8 goals in total during the most recent qualification rounds, which ran from September 7, 2023, through March 31, 2026. Although he briefly retired from international football in 2016, he returned shortly after to help Argentina once again. Should he choose to play, however, he will turn 39 during the tournament, as the event gets underway on June 11, 2026, and his birthday falls on June 24, 2026. His participation could be a legitimate moral and performance booster for Argentina and the 2022 World Cup winners. The nation is looking to make history and place its name next to Italy and Brazil, the only two nations to have won back-to-back World Cup events, and this could prove too much of a temptation for La Pulga to resist.
Messi is debating a return to the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Although no official confirmation has come through, Messi has given the matter extensive thought. He has considered his participation under one very specific condition: whether or not he would be able to actively contribute to Argentina’s success at the 2026 World Cup. Messi does not want to burden the national team if he does not consider himself to be playing at the very best of his ability. Winning a World Cup with Argentina, though, might still be a possibility, as Messi would be far from the oldest player to have won the title. Dino Zoff achieved this with Italy in 1982 at the age of 40. So, Messi has a choice to make, and the window for making this decision is closing quickly.
Lionel Messi’s FIFA World Cup legacy, stats, and performance
Now, let’s talk about what Messi has already achieved in World Cup games so far in his career. He is a formidable player and has been so for many years, holding multiple World Cup accolades, and potentially looking to make a worthwhile return in 2026, which will, by any reasonable degree, be his very last. So, what has Messi achieved as part of the World Cup? He made his 26th World Cup appearance during the Qatar 2022 final, which led to the title, and supplanted Lothar Matthäus as the player to have played in the most World Cup games. More importantly, he has played 2,314 World Cup minutes, once again securing the top spot in this category. Not unsurprisingly, he is also Argentina’s top goal scorer in World Cup matches, having scored 13 goals. But apart from scoring, Messi is also great at helping his team score, having registered five assists in World Cup matches. All told, Messi is a record-breaker with a consistent performance streak, and as he has hinted in interviews, he would be keen to return to the pitch in June only to ensure that he can improve on this performance.
FIFA World Cup 2026: Messi’s legacy lives on - possibly rekindled
The FIFA World Cup 2026 represents a defining moment for Argentina. The reigning champions have a rare opportunity to cement their place in history by joining the likes of Italy and Brazil with consecutive World Cup triumphs. Much of the spotlight, inevitably, falls on Messi. His potential participation would add another remarkable chapter to an already legendary career. Yet, as Messi himself has acknowledged, simply being there is not enough: what matters is contributing meaningfully and ensuring he exits the global stage on a high.
Lionel Messi and the World Cup FAQs
Yes, Lionel Messi is a consistent World Cup record-breaker. The player has helped his team win multiple qualifiers and is the top-scoring Argentinian national player in the World Cup. He is also the player to have played the most World Cup game minutes, among other notable achievements. It is not confirmed that Lionel Messi will play in the FIFA World Cup 2026 at the time of writing this article. However, Messi is debating a return to the World Cup, especially if it could help Argentina win a back-to-back title after winning the 2022 World Cup. No, Lionel Messi is not too old to play in the World Cup 2026. He will be turning 39 on the field if he chooses to participate in the competition. This is not the oldest a player has been when they played in the World Cup, either. Drag and drop files or click here to upload. We could not recognize in which language did you write your reply. Please choose your language from following options Your post has been sent to forum admins for a review to make sure it meets our community guidelines. You will receive an e-mail about the outcome of this process within 48 hours.
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