Former Argentina teammate puts pressure on Lionel Messi: ‘He has to play in the 2026 World Cup’

Lionel Messi has maintained impressive form with Inter Miami, yet he himself has questioned his presence at the FIFA World Cup 2026. Now, a former Argentine national team teammate is putting pressure on him to attend the prestigious tournament.

Throughout 2025, Lionel Messi has consistently showcased his remarkable form. For Inter Miami, he has already tallied 19 goals, establishing himself as the current top scorer in MLS. While he has not scored in Argentina’s last two games, his influence on Lionel Scaloni’s squad remains crucial. Amid uncertainty over his participation in the FIFA World Cup 2026, a former Argentina teammate puts pressure on the star to commit to attend the prestigious tournament.

“Whatever his condition is, Leo (Messi) has to play in the World Cup (2026) no matter what. It’s him, and he’s also the reason why the national team continues to grow and people have hope. It’s him. It’s like when Diego (Maradona) was around. It’s them and no one else. They’re from another planet, they’re not from here. We have to keep enjoying him and hopefully he’ll be in top form,” Angel Di Maria said, via La Nacion.

At 38 years old, Lionel Messi continues to defy expectations, maintaining his status as one of the leading scorers in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers. He has tallied six goals, positioning him just behind Colombia’s Luis Diaz, who leads with seven. Already topping Argentina’s squad, Messi is poised to lead the national team in the next games against Venezuela and Ecuador, which present him with a prime opportunity to overtake Diaz and claim the top scorer spot.

Angel Di Maria’s admiration for Lionel Messi extends beyond accolades. In a recent interview with La Nacion, he shared a revealing confession that underscores Messi’s unparalleled influence on the world of soccer. “He’s an alien. I never watched MLS, and now I have a subscription to watch Inter Miami games, just because he’s there, because I want to keep watching him.”

Lionel Messi could break multiple FIFA World Cup records if he plays in the next tournament

Lionel Messi’s potential participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup with Argentina promises not just an uplift for head coach Lionel Scaloni’s squad, but also the chance to etch his name even deeper into the history books. In case he competes, he would set the record for the most World Cup appearances, marking his presence in the tournament for the sixth time.

Moreover, Messi could make history as the oldest player to net a hat trick, surpassing the current record held by Cristiano Ronaldo, who achieved it in 2018 against Spain. On the scoring front, the Argentine star remains just four goals shy of dethroning Germany’s Miroslav Klose as the all-time leading goal scorer in World Cup history, a record established with 16 goals.

From: bolavip.com