Football icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are on course to make history after being named in their respective national teams’ squads for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with both set to feature in the tournament for a record sixth time.
FIFA has officially published the final squad lists for the expanded 48-team tournament, confirming the players who will compete across 104 matches in Canada, Mexico and the United States beginning on June 11.
Messi, 38, returns as the centerpiece of Argentina’s title defence after captaining La Albiceleste to World Cup glory in Qatar four years ago.
The Inter Miami star already holds the record for the most World Cup appearances by a player, having featured in 26 matches across five editions of the tournament.
Ronaldo, meanwhile, has also been included in Portugal’s squad, giving the 41-year-old another opportunity to pursue the only major trophy missing from his illustrious career.
The Al-Nassr forward remains the highest-scoring player in men’s international football and will once again lead Portugal on the global stage.
The two football greats are joined by Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who is also set for a sixth World Cup campaign, another landmark achievement in the history of the competition.
Beyond the Messi-Ronaldo storyline, the confirmed squads reflect both experience and a changing generation of talent.
A total of 357 players return after previous World Cup selections, while 891 players are set to make their tournament debuts.
The tournament will also feature several emerging stars, including Uzbekistan defender Abdukodir Khusanov, France midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery, New Zealand’s Finn Surman and Morocco’s Bilal El Khannouss.
The final squad lists published by FIFA include players from 449 clubs across 71 countries, underscoring the global reach of the competition.
The age range is equally remarkable, with Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon, aged 43, the oldest player selected, while Mexico’s Gilberto Mora, 17, is the youngest.
The 2026 World Cup will officially get underway on June 11 when co-hosts Mexico face South Africa at the historic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
The tournament will run for 39 days before concluding with the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19.
The confirmed squad announcements mark one of the final milestones before the start of what is set to be the largest FIFA World Cup in history, with much of the spotlight expected to fall on Messi and Ronaldo as they prepare for another chapter in their storied rivalry on football’s biggest stage.
Find the full squad lists submitted by the 48 Participating in the 2026 World Cup squads>>> Here
