"I'll do everything possible for him to be there," Lionel Scaloni said of Messi back in March. "For the good of soccer, he has to be there." That's not a guarantee — but it's as close as Argentina's coach has come to one.
The bigger picture: Argentina are genuine contenders to defend their 2022 title, and the squad announcement — expected within the next two weeks — will be one of the most watched reveals of the entire tournament build-up. Whether Messi's name is on it will determine the conversation around La Albiceleste for the rest of the summer.
The timeline and the rules
FIFA's deadlines are fixed. Provisional squads must be submitted by May 11, with final lists locked in no later than May 30. The final squad must include between 23 and 26 players, with at least three goalkeepers.
Argentina open Group J against Algeria on June 16 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City — meaning any injury-forced changes to the squad need to be sorted by June 15. After that, the roster is frozen, with the one exception being goalkeepers, who can be replaced at any stage of the competition if injured or ill, subject to FIFA approval.
Scaloni's March squad gave us some clues. Messi, Julian Alvarez, Alexis Mac Allister, and Emiliano Martinez were all included — the spine of a team that has lost just twice in competitive football since 2021. Younger faces like Tomas Palacios and Gabriel Rojas were also handed auditions. How many of those bets pay off in the final list will shape Argentina's depth options across a potentially seven-game tournament run.
Messi: included on the provisional list, but nothing is confirmed
Reports indicate Messi was named in Argentina's provisional roster — which matters, because it keeps the door open. But provisional is the key word. He has been clear for months that his participation was not decided, citing physical condition and state of mind as the determining factors. At 37, those aren't throwaway caveats.
Argentina are based out of the Sporting KC Training Center and staying at the Origin Kansas City Riverfront hotel during the tournament — a setup the federation chose specifically for the logistical advantages of Kansas City's central location.
If Messi plays, Argentina's odds as tournament favourites will hold firm. If he doesn't, Scaloni still has a squad capable of going deep — but it becomes a meaningfully different proposition. The squad announcement, whenever it drops, will answer that question one way or another.
