With 81 days remaining before Argentina begins defending its World Cup title, it remains unclear whether its best player will take the field. Lionel Messi is reportedly still undecided about whether he will play in the tournament, Argentina’s coach Lionel Scaloni said on Friday.
If it were up to Scaloni, Messi would take part in the event. Scaloni said he would do everything possible to ensure that Messi participates in the 2026 World Cup, according to ESPN. As for reasons to be optimistic about Messi’s participation, Scaloni noted that the forward is expected to play in two international friendlies ahead of the World Cup.
After that, it will be up to Messi to decide whether he wants to continue representing his country in the 2026 World Cup. Argentina is not scheduled to play its first match in the tournament until June 16, giving the legend a bit more time before he needs to make a decision.
