Having played an emotional final competitive match in Argentina in September 2025, Lionel Messi could end his amazing international career by leading his country to back-to-back World Cup titles in the 2026 finals in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner turns 39 during the tournament and is Argentina’s all-time top scorer and cap holder, leading to heightened vigilance in his homeland over the national hero and sporting icon’s fitness.
Even coach Lionel Scaloni has been able to rest his talisman as La Albiceleste have won their division as they face newcomers Jordan in their final match of the tournament. World Cup Group stage.
Here’s the full confirmed and probable schedule for Messi for the 2026 World Cup.
Messi’s World Cup matches: confirmed schedule and kick-off times
Here are Argentina’s fixtures, results and possible schedule, plus how to watch in the UK.
An asterisk indicates that the match started on the previous day in the region mentioned.
| date | match | a result | platform | Time (GMT) | at | Pt | channel |
| June 17 | Algeria | 3-0 | group | 02:00 | 21:00* | 18:00* | ITV |
| June 22 | Austria | 2-0 | group | 18:00 | 13:00 | 10:00 | BBC |
| June 28 | Jordan | 3-1 | group | 03:00 | 22:00* | 19:00* | BBC |
| July 3 | Cape Verde | 3-2 it) | Round of 32 | 23:00 | 18:00 | 15:00 | ITV |
| July 7 | Egypt | Round of 16 | 17:00 | 12:00 | 09:00 | To be determined later | |
| July 12 | To be determined later | Quarter-finals | 02:00 | 21:00 | 18:00 | To be determined later | |
| July 15 | To be determined later | Semi-final | 20:00 | 15:00 | 12:00 | To be determined later | |
| July 18 | To be determined later | Third place match | 22:00 | 17:00 | 14:00 | To be determined later | |
| July 19 | To be determined later | last | 20:00 | 15:00 | 12:00 | BBC, ITV |
Will Messi play in the 2026 World Cup? Injury news updates
The Argentine’s alarm bells were ringing when Messi made way with a muscle injury during Inter Miami’s final match before the World Cup, but Scaloni said Messi was “looking good” in training in an update a day before his side’s campaign began.
“We believe that everyone – not just Argentines – wants to see him on the field,” Scaloni said. “I want to see him play, because that’s what he does for everyone.
“For me, it will always be like this. Honestly, I don’t see anything negative (in training).
“He’s been in different circumstances but he’s always been there and he’s always been key for us, so now he’ll be even more so.”
Scaloni’s prophecy proved accurate when Messi scored his first World Cup hat-trick in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria in the opening match, equaling Germany legend Miroslav Klose’s record of 16 goals in finals.
Messi then went two ahead of Klose by scoring both goals in the subsequent 2-0 win over Algeria, although he did serve an early penalty, and added another goal in both victories over Jordan and Cape Verde.
Lionel Messi’s World Cup matches: knockout stage, full bracket
Argentina justified its position as favorites to win its group, beating surprise Group H runner-up Cape Verde in the round of 32 to face Egypt.
You can see the full arc on FIFA website.
Lionel Messi’s next match in the 2026 World Cup
Messi’s next appearance in the World Cup is scheduled to be in Argentina’s Round of 16 match against Egypt on July 7 at 17:00 GMT.
World Cup 2026: Will Lionel Messi lift the cup?
Argentina are among the favorites to win the World Cup and have retained almost all members of the team that won the title in 2022.
Messi, Barcelona’s all-time top scorer, scored the highest goals in the South American qualifiers, scoring eight goals to help Argentina finish at the top by nine points.
His hard-working teammate Julian Alvarez has scored four goals in the 2022 finals, while Inter’s Lautaro Martinez is averaging almost a goal per game internationally and is Argentina’s second-highest goalscorer under Scaloni.
One of Messi Inter Miami His team-mate Rodrigo De Paul is part of an impressive-looking midfield alongside the likes of Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandes and Liverpool’s Alexis McAllister, with an experienced defense in front of Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, one of the stars of the penalty shootout victory over France in the 2022 final.
Spain, France, England, Brazil, Portugal and Germany are among the potential candidates that Argentina will have to beat to win the title if Messi wants to win another title in his international career.
Argentina 2026 World Cup squad: Full list of Messi’s team-mates
Here is the squad led by Messi in the World Cup finals for the sixth time, after participating in a record 26 matches in the tournament before the start of the finals.
Goalkeepers: Juan Musso (Atletico Madrid), Geronimo Rulli (Marseille), Emiliano Martinez (Villa).
Defenders: Marcos Sensi (Bournemouth), Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon), Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate), Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Facundo Medina (Marseille), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid).
Midfielders: Leandro Paredes (River Plate), Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami), Valentin Barco (Strasbourg), Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis), Ezequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Alexis McAllister (Liverpool), Enzo Fernandes (Chelsea).
Attackers: Julian Alvarez (Atletico), Lionel Messi (Miami), Nicolas Gonzalez (Atletico), Thiago Almada (Atletico), Giuliano Simeone (Atletico), Nico Paz (Como), Jose Manuel Lopez (Palmereis), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan).
