Lionel Messi is set to don the Argentina national team jersey once more as he participates in two crucial World Cup qualifying matches over the next ten days. The superstar arrived in Argentina on Monday to reunite with the defending World Cup champions as they prepare for the qualifying rounds of the 2026 tournament.
His return was warmly welcomed, with a caption on a photo of Messi at Argentina’s headquarters reading, “¡Buenos días, capitán!” meaning “good morning, captain.” Argentina’s first match will take place on June 5 at 9 p.m. ET against Chile at Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos in Santiago. Following that, they will face Colombia—a matchup between the teams that reached the finals in the 2024 Copa America—on June 10 at 8 p.m. ET in Buenos Aires at Más Monumental.
These matches are scheduled during a FIFA international break, allowing Messi to balance his commitments between the national team and his club, Inter Miami, particularly as they prepare for the FIFA Club World Cup. Messi has been in stellar form in recent MLS matches, scoring five goals in his last three games and helping Inter Miami climb to third place in the Eastern Conference.
In the last year, Messi has consistently represented Argentina whenever fit while playing with Inter Miami. He last played for the national team in November, contributing to matches against Paraguay and Peru. Before that, he demonstrated his brilliance against Bolivia with an impressive hat trick in a 6-0 win.
Argentina has further World Cup qualifiers scheduled for later this year, including a home match against Venezuela on September 9 and an away match against Ecuador on September 14. However, it remains to be seen whether Messi will commit to participating in the 2026 World Cup, set to be hosted in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
As anticipation builds for both these qualifiers and the upcoming Club World Cup, fans are hopeful that Messi will continue to shine on both the international and club stages. His experience and leadership could prove invaluable as Argentina seeks to secure their place in the World Cup and as Inter Miami competes for global supremacy.