What team is Messi on? World Cup country, stats, trophies and more about international career

What team is Messi on? World Cup country, stats, trophies and more about international career originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Lionel Messi is undoubtedly football's greatest-ever talent. The diminutive superstar is less footballer than dancer, known for fox-trotting across the pitch with the ball sewn to his foot. He's a fearsome goal-scorer, but he is more than that, too — blessed with faultless technique and vision, Messi is a noted distributor.

All that amounts to Messi having the sport's most enchanting highlight reel. He's older now, felled by aches and sprains and the sweet embrace of Father Time. But goals and assists still rain from his cultured left foot.

Messi has sported a lot of jerseys across his club and international career. But what team does he currently turn out for? And what jersey will he likely wear when the 2026 World Cup begins? Here's what you need to know.

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What team is Messi on?

Messi plays for Argentina's national team. The aging wonder has spent 20 years on La Albiceleste's roster, making his senior debut against Hungary in 2005.

"La Pulga" has made nearly 200 international appearances for Argentina. He is the country's most prolific goal-scorer by far, with more than 100 goals to his name while outfitted in the blue-and-white.

Aided by Messi's star-power, Argentina has hoisted nearly every major international trophy since its supernova's debut. Messi anchored the country's wins in the 2021 and 2024 Copa America tournaments, as well as the 2022 World Cup. He also claimed gold as a member of the country's U23 Olympic side in 2008, scoring two goals in six games.

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When he isn't draped in Argentina colors, Messi stars for MLS side Inter Miami. He joined the David Beckham-owned side in 2023 after collecting countless titles and other prizes in Europe with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain. Despite being older than the vast majority of players he takes the field against, Messi continues to shine in Vice City. He was named MLS' Most Valuable Player in 2024 and won the league's Golden Boot as highest-scorer in 2025.

Here's a look at Messi's club career over the years:

Team

Years

Matches played

Goals scored

Barcelona C

2003-04

10

5

Barcelona B

2004-05

22

6

Barcelona

2004-21

778

672

Paris Saint-Germain

2021-23

75

32

Inter Miami

2023-present

87

77

Total

2003-present

972

792

Where is Lionel Messi from?

Messi hails from Rosario, the largest city in Argentina's Santa Fe province. The city has a population of 1,276,000, making it the third-largest city in the country.

Messi got his start at Newell's Old Boys, playing in the club's academy, which is based in Rosario. Diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency at 10 years old, Messi and his family sought treatment, first domestically and then abroad. They had relatives in Catalonia, helping facilitate a trial with the club in Sept. 2000. He joined El Blaugrana later that year.

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As a dual Argentine-Spanish national, Messi was eligible to play for Spain as well as Argentina. He opted to turn out for his birth country, making his first senior appearance in 2005 as 18 years old.

Is Messi in the 2026 World Cup?

Fans won't know for certain if Messi is a part of Argentina's World Cup squad until the final 23-26-man roster is announced, likely in mid-May 2026. Nevertheless, he has expressed in taking part in the competition, which would be his record sixth World Cup appearance.

“The truth is that yes, it’s something extraordinary to be able to be in a World Cup,” Messi said in an Oct. 2025 interview with NBC’s Thomas Llamas. “I would like to be there. To feel well and to be an important part of helping my national team, if I am there. And I’m going to assess that on a day-to-day basis when I start pre-season next year with Inter and see if I can really be 100 per cent.”

Messi is one of five men's players to play in five World Cups, accompanied by Mexico's Antonio Carbajal, Andres Guardado and Rafael Marquez, Germany's Lothar Matthus and his longtime rival, Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo.

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“I’m really eager because it’s a World Cup,” Messi said. “We’re coming off winning the last World Cup, and being able to defend it on the field again is spectacular because it’s always a dream to play with the national team, especially in official competitions, so hopefully God will allow me to do it once again.”

Lionel Messi international goals

Messi has scored goals in bunches in international play. As of Dec. 3, 2025, "The Little Magician" — as coined by sportscaster Ray Hudson — has 115 international goals in 196 appearances for Argentina. He is the second-most prolific goal-scorer in international football history, only bested by Ronaldo (143 as of Dec. 3, 2025).

Thirteen of those strikes have come in the World Cup, the joint-fourth-highest tally in tournament history. Messi is three goals off of Klose's record-setting 16-goal mark. Assuming he takes part in the 2026 iteration of the competition, he'll be in striking distance of the former Germany standout.

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Lionel Messi international trophies

Messi has claimed four major international trophies during his Argentina career. In 2008, he led Argentina's U23 side to Olympic glory, scoring two goals in six games.

In 2021, Messi landed his first piece of senior international hardware. Argentina captured Copa America — the quadrennial tournament for sides in South America (save for Suriname, Guyana and French Guiana, all of whom play in CONCACAF). Messi was the competition's joint top-scorer with four goals and claimed Best Player honors.

La Albiceleste repeated its feat three years later, beating Colombia in extra time courtesy of a late Lautaro Martinez winner.

In between those conquests came another. In 2022, Messi led Argentina to its first World Cup since 2022. The Argentines were set back by an opening match loss to Saudi Arabia. They proceeded to win each of their next two group stage matches before downing Australia in the Round of 16. A 2-2 draw with Netherlands followed in the quarterfinals, with Argentina claiming a win in the ensuing penalty shootout.

La Albiceleste swept Croatia aside in the semifinals before downing France in a frenzied final that saw Messi strike twice and slot his kick in the penalty shootout.

When will Messi retire?

It's unclear quite when Messi will hang up his cleats. The Argentine supernova is contracted to Inter Miami until the end of the 2028 season and continues to perform at a high level, having scored at nearly a goal-per-game clip since arriving in Vice City.

Given his advanced age — Messi will turn 39 during the World Cup — he likely doesn't have much longer in an Argentina kit. The 2026 World Cup figures to be his last major international tourney with Argentina. He could very well keep on turning out for Inter before officially calling it quits as the end of his current deal.

Lionel Messi international career timeline

Messi started his senior international career in earnest in 2005, making his debut with Argentina. By 2006, he was a fully fledged member of the squad, being selected for the country's World Cup team. He scored a goal and assisted another in his World Cup debut against Serbia and Montenegro.

He helped lead Argentina to a Copa America final appearance in 2007, earning Best Young Player honors as La Albiceleste fell to Brazil. In 2008, he was part of Argentina's gold medal-winning Olympic team. He was named captain of the senior side in 2011 and led Argentina to the final of the 2014 World Cup. They fell to Germany via an extra-time goal from Mario Gotze.

Messi didn't get his first taste of senior international glory until the 2021 Copa America. He led Argentina past Brazil in the final. The Argentines kept the good times rolling in the next year's World Cup, besting France on penalties to secure their first World Cup since 1986. Messi added his third international crown in successive competitions in 2024, helping Argentina repeat as Copa America champions.