Julián Álvarez wants to make one thing clear: Argentina isn’t showing up to the 2026 World Cup for a victory lap. They’re showing up for a fight.

The Atlético Madrid forward, speaking in a FIFA interview on May 26, framed the defending champions’ mindset around one unmistakable reality. This could be Lionel Messi’s last World Cup. And La Scaloneta intends to send him off the right way.

Ready to fight with anyone

“I don’t know if we are favorites to win the World Cup, but we are ready to fight with anyone.”

That quote was delivered on May 28 alongside Argentina’s official 26-man squad announcement. The confirmed roster features both Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez alongside Messi in the attacking setup.

The Messi factor looms over everything

Messi at 39 is the central figure around whom Argentina’s campaign is being framed. Argentina’s coaching staff under Lionel Scaloni has shown a remarkable ability to manage Messi’s minutes and maximize his impact. The system doesn’t ask Messi to press from the front or cover every blade of grass. It asks him to be the brain. Everything else, the running, the tackling, the defensive structure, falls to players like Álvarez.

Argentina’s form heading into the tournament

The defending champions haven’t been coasting on their 2022 laurels. Recent friendly victories against Honduras have demonstrated that this squad remains sharp and competitive heading into mid-June when the tournament kicks off.

Off the pitch, Álvarez announced a new brand partnership on June 4, a signal that commercial stakeholders see him as a central figure in the tournament’s narrative.