Lionel Messi arrived in Argentina on Sunday morning to join the national team’s training ahead of the South American World Cup 2026 qualifiers. The world-renowned captain, fresh from celebrating his eighth Ballon d'Or win with an exhibition match at Inter Miami, is now ready to play under coach Lionel Scaloni. Messi received a warm welcome upon his arrival in Ezeiza, reflecting the country's immense admiration for him.

Argentina is set to host Marcelo Bielsa-led Uruguay at La Bombonera stadium on Thursday, in a match shifted from River Plate's stadium due to concerts by American singer Taylor Swift. Following this, they will face Brazil on Tuesday, marking their final games of the year. These matches come with Argentina leading the qualifiers with 12 points from four consecutive victories, while Uruguay and Brazil, along with Venezuela, trail with 7 points each.

The Argentine squad, now gathered at the AFA training grounds in Ezeiza, includes goalkeepers Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa), Franco Armani (River Plate), Juan Musso (Atalanta), and Walter Benítez (PSV). Defenders in the team are Gonzalo Montiel (Nottingham Forest), Pablo Maffeo (Mallorca), Nahuel Molina (Atlético de Madrid), and several others. Midfielders like Leandro Paredes (Roma) and forwards including Paulo Dybala (Roma) and Messi (Inter Miami) are also part of the lineup.

This preparation is crucial as Argentina faces two of its most challenging rivals in the current qualifiers. The team, now training under Scaloni, is geared up for the crucial fixtures against Uruguay and Brazil, remembering their last suspended encounter in September 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Argentine squad aims to maintain its leading position in the qualifiers and secure its spot for the World Cup.