Milan, 29 May (LaPresse) – Amid a worrying spate of injuries, Argentina’s head coach, Lionel Scaloni, has sought to allay concerns by confirming that most of the reigning world champions, including captain Lionel Messi, will be part of the squad aiming to win a second consecutive World Cup title in 2026. Messi, who is about to turn 39, is the standout name on the 26-man World Cup squad announced on Thursday by the Argentine Football Association. Among those selected, 17 were part of the team that triumphed in the final against France in Qatar four years ago. Several players were doubtful due to injuries of varying severity, as the 1 June deadline set by FIFA for finalising World Cup squads approached. Among them was Messi himself, who is suffering from muscle fatigue and a strained left hamstring, an injury that prevented him from finishing the match against Inter Miami last Sunday. The club has officially stated that his recovery time will depend on his “clinical and functional progress”. Two players feature in the Italian league: Inter captain Lautaro Martinez and the surprise of the season, Nico Paz of Como. Argentina will make their debut on 16 June against Algeria in Group J, which also includes Austria and Jordan.