Lionel Messi, leader of Inter Miami CF, has been called up to play for the Argentine National Team in their qualifying games for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. 

The game will take place at La Bombonera in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on November 16 at 7 p.m. ET when Argentina plays Uruguay. Once the 2022 World Cup champs get back from their trip around the world, they will play their second qualifying match in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Tuesday, November 21, at 7:30 p.m. ET, during the international break. 

For Argentina, Messi has the most caps (178), the most goals (106), and the most World Cup goals (13). He also has the record for most World Cup matches played (26) and is the only player to score in the group stage, round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and final. His leadership during the team’s historic wins in the 2021 CONMEBOL Copa América, 2022 Finalissima, and 2022 FIFA World Cup was also a big part of its past.

Messi most recently played for his country in FIFA World Cup qualifiers in October, where he helped the team keep winning. Messi scored two amazing goals in the 32nd and 42nd minutes to help Argentina beat Peru 2-0 in the second game of the FIFA window on Tuesday, Oct. 17. He played the whole game and scored both goals. The most important thing about Messi’s brace is that it made him the top scorer in the history of Conmebol World Cup qualifying with 31 goals.

Messi played 14 times for his club, Inter Miami, in all categories in 2023 after joining in the summer. He scored 11 goals and set up 8 others, which is an impressive stat. Notably, the Argentine helped Inter Miami win the 2023 Leagues Cup, which was the first official title for the First Team in Club history. He won the Leagues Cup Best Player and Top Scorer awards for his 10 goals and four assists in seven games in the tournament.

Messi also won a record-setting eighth Ballon d’Or award in October, making him the first current player in Major League Soccer (MLS) history to win the sport’s highest individual honor.