Four years ago, Lionel Messi climbed his final peak as he led his beloved Argentina to World Cup glory. The famous gold trophy was the only one that had evaded the little magician throughout his iconic career, and the consensus opinion was that he could never surpass compatriot Diego Maradona and Brazilian Pele as the greatest footballer of all time without leading the Albiceleste to global glory. That narrative came to an end in Qatar. 

Despite being 36 years of age, Messi managed to roll back the years as he put in a player of the tournament-winning performance, scoring seven goals — including two in the final — as Argentina won the World Cup for the first time since the days of Maradona. Now, three and a half years on, online betting sites make the defending champions a contender to go all the way once more. One can bet on sports at Bovada, and the American bookmaker currently lists Argentina as an 8/1 fourth-favorite to leave MetLife Stadium with the crown, with only Spain, France, and England considered more likely champions. 

Now, however, Messi is an even riper 39 years of age, and the 2026 World Cup will be his record-breaking sixth and last foray onto football's grandest stage. It's safe to say then that at this age, while he will always be Argentina's talisman, he is no longer capable of winning games single-handedly. So, which of his teammates will have to stand up and deliver if the Albiceleste are to become the first team in 64 years to win consecutive World Cup trophies? Let's take a look. 

https://x.com/bovadaofficial/status/2045863907168784827?s=46&t=Jxc74bqcdlQ9Bjed4TR1Jw

Julián Alvarez

Julián Alvarez headed to Qatar in 2022 very much as the back-up striker behind Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez. However, after Argentina's shocking defeat to Saudi Arabia in their tournament opener, he was suddenly thrust into the limelight. And with the former River Plate man up top, Lionel Scaloni's men were suddenly transformed. Rather than the out-and-out goalscorer that Martinez was, Alvarez was a man who could link up play as well as score goals, and ultimately, that was crucial in Argentina's eventual triumph. 

Fast forward to now, however, and Alvarez is a bona fide starter, both for club and country. He left Manchester City for Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2024, no longer satisfied with his bit-part role behind Erling Haaland. Since arriving in the Spanish capital, he has developed into a superstar, hitting 20-plus goals in both of his campaigns with the Rojiblancos, including a stunning free kick in this season's Champions League quarterfinal against Barcelona. 

The 26-year-old started all but one of Argentina's World Cup qualifiers, scoring four goals and linking up play with the still sensational Messi alongside him. Now, he has to shoulder much of that burden once again in North America. Under Simeone in Madrid, Alvarez has become accustomed to running himself into the ground for the cause, pressing relentlessly in addition to his attacking brilliance. He will have to do plenty of that at the World Cup, allowing the 39-year-old Messi to save his legs so that he can then create Argentina's attacks. 

Emiliano Martinez 

Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez was as much of a hero in Messi's first two international successes as Messi himself. The current Aston Villa number one played a crucial role in Argentina winning the 2021 Copa America, starring in the semifinal penalty shootout victory against Colombia and keeping a clean sheet in the final against rivals Brazil. He would then be the star of two penalty shootout victories at the 2022 World Cup, making two saves in the quarterfinal against the Netherlands and a save in the final against France. 

Before that shootout against Les Bleus decided who won the World Cup final in Qatar, Martinez made a spectacular save from French striker Randal Kolo Muani in the dying seconds of injury time. The save, made low to his left, famously kept Argentina's hopes alive, and they would carry on their fate-bound journey to the title. Three and a half years on, Martinez may well have to deliver similarly spectacular displays in North America. 

Argentina will likely be without their best central defender at the World Cup as Tottenham's Cristian Romero faces a race against time to recover from a knee injury suffered in mid-April. Without him, chances are that Martinez will have more work to do in shot-stopping between the sticks. 

Not only that, but he may very well need to display his penalty shootout heroics as well. The Albiceleste have had to win at least one penalty shootout en route to winning the last two Copa Americas and the World Cup, and they will likely need to win another if they are to leave North America with the title this summer. 

Enzo Fernández

In Qatar, central midfielder Enzo Fernández was an unknown commodity. Six months before the tournament, the central midfielder had signed for Benfica from River Plate for €18m. He would make substitute appearances in Argentina's first two games of the tournament, before then becoming a key presence in the center of midfield throughout the run to the title, winning the Young Player of the Tournament award in the process. 

Shortly after the World Cup, Chelsea forked out a British record of €121m to sign Fernandez, marking a monumental €103m mark-up for Benfica in just six months. Heading into 2026, however, the robust midfielder has matured, and he is a tenacious presence in the heart of Argentina's midfield. 

Fernández is Chelsea's vice captain, and his leadership is paramount to both the Blues and the Albiceleste. That will be crucial this summer, as will be his lung-busting energy in the center of the park. He is the man tasked with not only winning the ball back, but also then using it smartly, getting it into Messi as quickly as possible, and allowing the Inter Miami man to thrive. If the 25-year-old can deliver at a high level, Argentina stands as good a chance as anyone to win the World Cup this summer.