Angel Di Maria: 'Messi is absolutely destined to play at the 2026 World Cup'

Angel Di Maria has made it clear that Lionel Messi is certain to participate in the 2026 World Cup, despite questions about his age and fitness.

The future of Lionel Messi at the 2026 World Cup has recently become a hot topic of debate. At 39 when the tournament begins, many believe the Argentine superstar may struggle to keep up his top form. However, his close teammate Angel Di Maria has dismissed all skepticism, insisting that Messi simply has to be at the upcoming World Cup, describing him as “a player from another planet,” on par with the legendary Diego Maradona.

In an interview with La Nacional, Di Maria emphasized: “No matter what condition he’s in, Leo must play at the World Cup. Messi is the heart of the national team, always inspiring and exciting everyone, just like Diego did. They’re from another world, not ordinary people. We need to cherish every moment we still get to see Leo on the field.”

Di Maria even revealed that he bought a season ticket to watch Inter Miami in the MLS, simply to keep watching Messi play: “I’d never watched MLS before, but now I don’t miss a single Inter Miami game. For me, Leo is a phenomenon, a true alien on the pitch.”

Messi achieved his greatest dream by winning the World Cup 2022 with Argentina, a title that had eluded him for years. While many thought that would be the perfect ending, the legendary number 10 went on to lead La Albiceleste to another Copa America triumph in 2024, proving his hunger and influence are as strong as ever.

For Di Maria, the 2026 World Cup wouldn’t be complete without Messi. He insists that Argentina is ready to field Messi any day of the week, unless the forward himself decides to retire.

With less than a year to go before the tournament kicks off in North America, Argentina still has several matches to prepare. But one thing is certain: when the team steps onto the biggest stage, Lionel Messi will remain the hope and symbol of an entire nation.