Emiliano Martínez
January 2026
Rochet said he does not like Martínez’s on-field attitudes and mind games, framing them as arrogance, while also calling him a phenomenal goalkeeper. Rochet contrasted his own low-key style with Martínez’s theatrics, acknowledging it works for Martínez but saying he discourages that profile among Uruguay teammates.
Lionel Messi
January 2026
pain coach Luis de la Fuente urged Lionel Messi to keep playing as the Argentina captain continues to weigh up whether he will feature at the 2026 World Cup. Messi has said he will decide based on fitness and not wanting to be a burden. Messi helped Argentina qualify by scoring eight goals in South American qualifying, but has repeatedly stressed he will assess his physical condition day by day. Argentina will attempt to defend the title they won in 2022, and Messi is still undecided about joining that run.
Cristiano Ronaldo
December 2025
World Cup winner Frank Leboeuf hopes the 2026 tournament becomes Cristiano Ronaldo’s crowning moment, arguing that while the Portuguese icon’s legacy is already secure, lifting the trophy after Lionel Messi’s 2022 triumph would fundamentally change how his career is judged. Leboeuf admits he has criticised Ronaldo before but says a World Cup win is the one missing piece when compared with Messi. Seeing Portugal’s stacked squad, he believes they have the tools to emulate Argentina’s 2022 run and finally give Ronaldo the ultimate international prize.
England national team
December 2025
England’s World Cup draw puts them in a group with Ghana, Croatia and Panama, opponents who all topped their qualifying sections and arrive with momentum. On paper it looks manageable, but each side carries threats, travel demands and contrasting styles that complicate progress. If they top the group, England probably face Senegal in the Round of 32, co-hosts Mexico at altitude in the last 16, then Brazil in Miami and Argentina in Dallas, a brutally demanding sequence of physical, tactical and emotional challenges.
Enzo Fernandez
December 2025
Enzo Fernandez has admitted he dreams of captaining Argentina once Messi steps aside, stressing he is not chasing the iconic No.10 status but would be honoured to wear the armband when the coaching staff decide the team is ready for a new leader. The Chelsea midfielder pointed to his own experience as captain at club level and said he would gladly accept the responsibility if chosen, while acknowledging the timing and decision rest entirely with Lionel Scaloni’s staff and the natural evolution of the squad.
Lionel Messi
December 2025
Fernando Signorini has urged Messi to put Argentina’s World Cup defence above everything, branding MLS a “parody of football” and arguing the forward is stuck in a record-chasing cycle that does little to prepare him for elite international demands. The former Argentina fitness coach says Messi should step back for a “detox” period, spend time with his family and even pursue a short-term loan away from Inter Miami so he arrives at the 2026 tournament sharper than rivals coming from Europe.
Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez (Argentina)
November 2025
Lionel Messi (Argentina) and Lautaro Martinez (Argentina) each scored and assisted in a 2-0 win over Angola, guiding the world champions through a competitive friendly in Luanda and underlining Argentina’s continued strength as Lionel Scaloni’s side look toward more trophies in North America next summer. Angola started brightly, forcing Geronimo Rulli (Argentina) into an important early save before Martínez finished a Messi through ball before half time. After the break Angola battled hard, but Martínez returned the favour late on, setting up Messi for a clinical second that capped another dominant individual display.
Enzo Fernández (Chelsea)
November 2025
Player-of-the-match versus Wolves, Fernández disclosed an ongoing issue ruling him out of upcoming internationals. He controlled tempo and progression to unlock a compact block, but medical prudence prevails for Argentina’s friendlies. Chelsea leveraged his diagonals and switch play to create width for full-back overlaps and weak-side entries. Post-match, he flagged the problem as significant enough to skip call-ups, prioritising club-managed rehab to avoid escalation.
Alejandro Garnacho (Chelsea)
October 2025
Oscar Ruggeri warned Garnacho to “come back down to earth” if he hopes to rejoin Argentina’s national squad. The 20-year-old’s career has stalled since his £40m move to Chelsea, following disciplinary issues at Manchester United that led to exile from first-team training and a summer transfer exit. Ruggeri’s remarks echo concerns within the Argentine setup over Garnacho’s attitude and focus. Despite flashes of potential, limited minutes under Enzo Maresca and continued inconsistency have slowed progress. National team staff will monitor his response to public criticism and professionalism in training before reconsidering future call-ups.