Argentina World Cup squad update: continuity first, with Senesi the one late change
Argentina are the defending world champions, and their Argentina World Cup squad has been built to look as close to the Qatar 2022-winning group as possible. The clearest confirmed change is Marcos Senesi coming in for the injured Leonardo Balerdi, while the rest of Lionel Scaloni’s setup has been kept largely intact.
That is the story of this squad: continuity, not churn. Argentina have “changed little” since the dramatic triumph over France in Qatar 2022, and that stability is being treated as a strength rather than a risk.
The Guardian’s 2026 World Cup team guide says Scaloni has a “strong” and “confident” squad and that Argentina are “no longer reliant on Messi” as they target back-to-back World Cup titles. That framing fits a champion side trying to defend its place at the top without rebuilding from scratch.
Lionel Messi still sits at the heart of the group, though. Another verified squad line says “Messi leads an experienced Argentina World Cup squad”, which captures the balance Scaloni appears to want: a proven leader inside a settled, veteran core.
Confirmed names that show the shape of the squad
| Player/Staff Mentioned | Status in Argentina World Cup Squad | Verified Update |
|---|---|---|
| Lionel Messi | Experienced leader in the squad | “Messi leads an experienced Argentina World Cup squad” |
| Marcos Senesi | Confirmed roster replacement | Replaces injured Leonardo Balerdi on Argentina’s 26-player World Cup roster |
| Leonardo Balerdi | Injured and replaced | Injured player replaced on the roster |
| Rodrigo De Paul | Set to start against Spain | One of three changes in the World Cup final lineup |
| Nico González | Set to start against Spain | One of three changes in the World Cup final lineup |
| Gonzalo Montiel | Set to start against Spain | One of three changes in the World Cup final lineup |
Scaloni’s champion core is being kept together
The most important confirmed theme is that Argentina have resisted major change. The squad report says the champions have “changed little” since Qatar 2022, and that continuity is being presented as a virtue.
That matters because defending a World Cup title usually invites more upheaval than Argentina have chosen. Instead, Scaloni has kept the core together and made only the one confirmed late roster adjustment for injury.
What the Spain lineup says about Scaloni’s thinking
The final-lineup note against Spain offers a useful glimpse of how Scaloni is using that settled group. Argentina made three changes, with Rodrigo De Paul, Nico González and Gonzalo Montiel set to start.
That is not a separate story from the squad update; it supports it. The selection call shows Scaloni adjusting within a stable structure rather than turning over the side.
Squad update table
| Update | Verified Detail | Source Attribution |
|---|---|---|
| Senesi for Balerdi | Defender Marcos Senesi replaces the injured Leonardo Balerdi on Argentina’s 26-player World Cup roster | Argentina national team confirmation |
| Continuity from Qatar 2022 | The squad has “changed little” since the dramatic Qatar 2022 triumph over France, and continuity is presented as a virtue | Squad report snippet |
| Three changes against Spain | Argentina made three changes for the World Cup final against Spain, with Rodrigo De Paul, Nico González and Gonzalo Montiel set to start | Verified lineup report |
| Scaloni’s squad profile | Lionel Scaloni’s squad is described as “strong” and “confident” and “no longer reliant on Messi” as they target back-to-back World Cup titles | The Guardian |
| Messi’s role | “Messi leads an experienced Argentina World Cup squad” | Squad snippet |
Algeria opener and the 38-point marker
Argentina’s tournament preview also gives a clear early marker. In the Group J opener against Algeria, the world champions are described as favourites.
That same preview says Argentina accumulated 38 points. The figure is shown in the preview text, and it reinforces the sense of a side arriving with strong form and expectation already attached.
Bottom line on Argentina’s squad
Argentina’s World Cup squad is defined by continuity from Qatar 2022, with Messi still leading an experienced group and the team described by The Guardian as strong, confident and no longer reliant on him. The one confirmed late roster change is Senesi replacing the injured Balerdi, while Scaloni’s three lineup changes against Spain — De Paul, Nico González and Gonzalo Montiel — show a coach adjusting within a settled core rather than remaking the defending champions.