Called Up: Lionel Messi Called Up by Argentina

Inter Miami CF captain Lionel Messi has been called up to represent the Argentine National team for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Ecuador and Bolivia. 

Messi and La Albiceleste will play the first match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers at home, facing Ecuador at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Thursday, Sept. 7 at 8 p.m. ET. The 2022 World Cup winners will then travel to Bolivia for the team’s second qualifying match on Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 4 p.m. ET at the Estadio Hernando Siles in La Paz, Bolivia. 

For Argentina, Messi holds the records for most caps (175), most goals (103), and most World Cup goals (13), while also holding the international record for most World Cup match appearances (26), while also becoming the only player to score in the World Cup group stage, round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals and final during his international career. He has also been key in making history for La Albiceleste, leading the team’s historic 2021 CONMEBOL Copa América, 2022 Finalissima and 2022 FIFA World Cup title wins. Messi most recently represented his country’s national team during the June international window, bagging the opener in the 2-0 win over Australia in a friendly played in China on June 15. 

On the club side, the Argentine has 17 goal contributions so far since joining Inter Miami in the summer, registering an impressive 11 goals and six assists in 11 games across all competitions. Notably, he led Inter Miami to a historic win in the 2023 Leagues Cup to clinch the First Team’s first official title in Club history.

Messi will join the Argentinian national team after Inter Miami faces LAFC on the road on Sept. 3 at BMO Stadium at 10 p.m ET.