The last time Argentina went to a World Cup without Lionel Messi, Mauricio Pochettino was in defense and Diego Simeone patrolled the midfield. David Seaman kept a clean sheet for England as the South American giants crashed out of the group stage.
Suffice to say, it was an awfully long time ago.
Argentina may be plunged back into this bleak realm of Messi-less-ness by the time the 2026 World Cup rolls around. The nation’s talisman will turn 39 during the tournament and has repeatedly expressed doubts over his involvement.
However, Messi remains a force to be reckoned with even as the years tick by. After spending the buildup to the competition at Inter Miami, there is renewed hope that the global icon may hang around long enough to appear in the North American-hosted World Cup. Is it misplaced?






