SSoccer fans are keeping an eye on the new edition of the 2026 World Cup. The tournament will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19, and Lionel Messi’s Argentina national team will defend its title.
However, the Albiceleste captain has not yet announced his intention to participate in this tournament, but manager Thomas Muller has issued a warning if he does decide to participate.
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Messi could change the ‘balance of Argentina as a whole’
Leo has already played in five World Cups, the last of which was a huge success in Qatar 2022. Argentina defeated France in a penalty shootout in the final and were crowned champions. This is a feat not achieved since 1986.
Despite this, Lionel reiterated that his participation in the 2026 Games was still in doubt and said he would evaluate his condition on a daily basis.
If he does decide to play, he will not only become one of only two players in soccer history (along with Cristiano Ronaldo) to have appeared in six World Cups, but he will also be decisive. Thomas Müller believes so.
The Vancouver Whitecaps star said Argentina are “at the top” of his list of favorites and gave his opinion on whether Messi will play in the tournament.
“From my point of view, if he was there, it would be an interesting project. Of course, it could change the balance of the whole team, for better or for worse,” Muller told Magenta TV.
Muller and Messi have played against each other 11 times, so these words were not taken lightly. In these encounters, the Germans have won seven of them, most notably Bayern’s 8-2 victory over Barça, a 1-0 victory in the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil, and a 4-0 victory in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Thomas, on the other hand, has lost four of those games, the most recent being last Saturday, Dec. 6, when Inter Miami defeated the Whitecaps 3-1 at Chase Stadium to become the first-ever MLS champions.
Muller, who has now retired from the German national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup, said Germany must get through the first group stage. “At first glance, when you read the name of the opponent, of course you have to get through,” he said, but cautioned that he didn’t know much about Curaçao.
“Ivory Coast has an African champion, and Ecuador has a runner-up team from the South American qualifying round. However, considering that the top eight third-place teams out of the 12 groups will also advance to the next round, it is essential that they advance.”
Lionel Messi’s Argentina national team, on the other hand, is in Group J with Austria, Algeria and Jordan, and will make their debut against Algeria on Tuesday 16 June, before playing against Austria on Monday 22 June and Jordan on Friday 26 June.
