Lionel Messi has rejoined Argentina’s national team ahead of its upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, marking his return to international duty after a seven-month hiatus.
The 37-year-old forward arrived at the national training facility — now bearing his name — located just outside Buenos Aires, as Argentina prepares to face Chile and Colombia in the latest round of CONMEBOL qualifiers.
Messi last featured for the reigning world champions in November 2024. A muscle injury sidelined him from the March window, during which head coach Lionel Scaloni’s squad secured its qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
The Inter Miami CF star returns in top form, having been named Major League Soccer’s Player of the Week for a second consecutive time. He played a pivotal role in Miami’s recent 5-1 victory over Columbus Crew, contributing to all five goals.
Argentina currently leads the South American qualification standings with 31 points. The team will travel to Santiago to take on Chile before hosting Colombia at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.
