Three years after Qatar: which champions remain solid, who is doubtful and who is ruled out for the 2026 World Cup

This Thursday marks three years since an unforgettable night for Argentine soccer. The national team defeated France in a heart-stopping final in Lusail, lifted the World Cup in Qatar, and added the third star to its crest. The memory remains intact and coexists with the hope of competing for the title again at the 2026 World Cup.

With the path already laid out in the Qualifiers, the present of the world champion squad shows very different realities. Lionel Scaloni has a solid core of players who today seem to have their place secured, a group that is still fighting to hold on in his consideration, and several names that, for different reasons, have already been left out of the next World Cup cycle.

Those who remain

The central figure continues to be Lionel Messi. Although the captain, who is about to turn 39 years old, has not yet publicly confirmed his participation, in the soccer world it is taken for granted that he will play his sixth World Cup. His longevity, leadership, and influence within the group keep him as the team's absolute reference point.

Alongside him, there are several champions who today appear to have their ticket almost guaranteed. Emiliano "Dibu" Martínez is the undisputed owner of the goal, with Gerónimo Rulli as the main alternative.

In defense, the Qatar core remains in place, with Cristian Romero, Nicolás Otamendi, Nahuel Molina, Gonzalo Montiel, and Nicolás Tagliafico.

In midfield, Leandro Paredes, Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernández, and Thiago Almada remain central pieces for the coaching staff.

Finally, in attack Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez have consolidated themselves based on their consistent performances and their goal-scoring contributions both for their clubs and for the Albiceleste.

The question marks

Within the group that doesn't yet have its place secured, two clearly defined situations appear: those who depend on their physical condition and those who need to sustain or recover their performance.

In the first case are the players affected by injuries. Juan Foyth lost ground due to physical problems and a lack of continuity, although this year he returned to the drafts and began to get minutes again. Today he is an option, but he needs to string together matches without interruptions.

The outlook is more complex for Germán Pezzella, who suffered a ligament injury in August and is only targeting a return between March and April. His comeback and the level at which he does so will be key for him to compete for a place again. Something similar is happening with Lisandro Martínez, who is highly valued by the Albiceleste coach for his versatility but has been affected by a run of injuries that left him out of several squads. If he manages to gain continuity at Manchester United, his place will be strengthened again.

The other group is made up of those who are in doubt due to their performance and soccer context. Exequiel Palacios has always remained in the coaching staff's consideration and was part of almost every Qualifiers draft, but his presence in 2026 will depend on whether he keeps his starting role and level at Bayer Leverkusen. 

Guido Rodríguez also falls into this category, since he has not been drafted since September 2024 and has lost ground in the coaching staff's consideration, which means that he needs to regain prominence at West Ham in order to reinsert himself into the competition.

Ángel Correa, meanwhile, appears more relegated due to the strong competition in his position and due to his move from Atlético de Madrid to Tigres de la UANL, in addition to having had limited participation in the Qualifiers and being left out of the last Copa América.

Lastly, Paulo Dybala's case is particular, since he was not drafted for the 2024 Copa América and barely played minutes in two Qualifiers matches. With strong competition in his position, he will need a semester of consistency and high-level performances to get back into the discussion, with a potential move to Boca as a possible turning point.

Those ruled out

Lastly, there are Qatar champions who will no longer be on the road to 2026. Franco Armani and Ángel Di María ended their cycle with the Albiceleste by their own decision, Alejandro "Papu" Gómez has not been drafted again since the World Cup and has been definitively left off the radar.

Three years after the feat in Qatar, the Scaloneta is beginning to shape its new face. The challenge now will be to maintain its champion identity and find the right balance between experience and renewal in order to dream big again.