Argentina have named Lionel Messi in their final 25-man squad for the World Cup, with Gianluca Prestianni and Franco Mastantuono among the notable omissions.Benfica’s Prestianni, 20, and Real Madrid’s Mastantuono, 18, were both named in the 55-player provisional squad released on May 11, but both forwards have been cut from the reigning champions’ final squad. Chelsea’s Alejandro Garnacho has also been omitted from manager Lionel Scaloni’s final squad.In April, Prestianni was handed a six-match ban by UEFA for homophobic conduct. This occurred during Benfica’s Champions League game against Real Madrid, in which Vinicius Jr. alleged that Prestianni had racially abused him. Prestianni denied that accusation at the time.Earlier this month, FIFA extended Prestianni’s ban globally, meaning he would have missed Argentina’s first two World Cup matches against Algeria and Austria, should he have been included in the squad. Three of the six games are suspended for a two-year period, and the suspension only applied to UEFA-organised competitions. Jordan are Argentina’s third opponent in Group J.
#SelecciónMayor Con toda la fuerza de los argentinos 💪🏻🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/84Lh03BgxH
— 🇦🇷 Selección Argentina ⭐⭐⭐ (@Argentina) May 28, 2026Messi, 38, is set to play in his sixth World Cup. The Inter Miami forward exited his club’s final MLS game before the World Cup last Sunday with an apparent injury.
