Exequiel Palacios included in Argentina's World Cup squad

Bayer Leverkusen's Exequiel Palacios will have a chance to defend his World Cup triumph as he makes Argentina's final squad for this summer's competition. The 27-year-old central midfielder only made his first league start of the season in February, but his strong end to the campaign helped him to convince Lionel Scaloni.

Palacios has played 47 minutes during the last World Cup when Argentina ended their long wait for the biggest crown in the world of football. Including their undisputed superstar Lionel Messi and Palacios, the majority of the squad remains the same as they bid to become the first back-to-back champions since Brazil did it in 1962.

Former Borussia Dortmund center-back Leonardo Balerdi is one of the new additions compared to the 2022 edition in Qatar. Nicolás González (Stuttgart) is the other player in Argentina's roster with previous Bundesliga experience. The three-time winners will start their Group J campaign against Algeria before facing Austria and debutants Jordan.

Full Argentina squad for the 2026 World Cup:

Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa), Gerónimo Rulli (Olympique de Marseille), Juan Musso (Atlético Madrid)

Defenders: Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur), Lisandro Martínez (Manchester United), Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica), Nahuel Molina (Atlético Madrid), Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate), Nicolás Tagliafico (Olympique Lyon), Leonardo Balerdi, Facundo Medina (Olympique de Marseille)

Midfielders: Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Enzo Fernández (Chelsea), Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors), Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Valentín Barco (Strasbourg)

Forwards: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Lautaro Martínez (Inter), Julián Alvarez, Nicolás González, Giuliano Simeone, Thiago Almada (Atlético Madrid), Nico Paz (Como), José Manuel López (Palmeiras)