According to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, Hoyos has fully earned the trust of the Inter Miami hierarchy to steer the ship long-term. “Guillermo Hoyos will stay as Inter Miami head coach after the World Cup and during the rest of the season,” Romano reported. “Decision made as Hoyos has the best winning record to start a tenure in Inter Miami history with 6 wins, 1 draw, and 1 defeat.”

Guardiola was reportedly furious when leaks about a potential Manchester City departure surfaced a few weeks ago, and while the tactician has kept his next move close to his vest, heavy rumors had linked him to an MLS arrival for one final dance with Messi. However, the news of Hoyos’ contract extension effectively slams the door on those Hollywood dreams.

In the meantime, the Inter Miami front office are keeping a nervous eye on Messi’s fitness, as the legendary playmaker headlines a massive, pre-World Cup injury wave threatening Argentina’s tournament debut. With their talisman sidelined, the Herons’ hierarchy is actively scouting external roster alternatives to ensure the squad can sustain its championship-caliber momentum and hunt for more silverware down the stretch.

Were there options to replace Hoyos on the bench?

Despite Hoyos ultimately winning the job, the Inter Miami front office kept an extensive wishlist of high-profile candidates on standby. The club’s ownership group is desperate to replicate the historic success of last season’s double-trophy campaign and was fully prepared to break the bank for an elite replacement.

Alongside Guardiola, heavyweights like Marcelo Gallardo, Xavi Hernandez, Wilfried Nancy, and even current Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni were reportedly discussed as potential targets. The high-stakes coaching search originally began after former manager Javier Mascherano abruptly vacated the post, opening the door for Hoyos to step in and secure his future in Fort Lauderdale.

Messi’s tenure under Guardiola’s management

Messi’s four seasons under Pep Guardiola (2008–2012) represent one of the most destructive player-coach partnerships in the history of soccer. It was Guardiola who famously unlocked Messi by moving him from the right wing into the center as a “False 9,” a tactical masterstroke that transformed Messi from a world-class talent into an unstoppable, apex-level goal scorer.

Messi’s stats under Guardiola’s management:

• Matches Played: 219
• Goals Scored: 211
• Assists Registered: 97
• Total Goal Contributions: 308 in 219 games
• Goals Per Game Ratio: 0.96

Titles under Guardiola’s management:

• Team silverware (14 Trophies): 3x La Liga titles, 2x UEFA Champions Leagues, 2x Copas del Rey, 2x FIFA Club World Cups, 2x UEFA Super Cups, and 3x Supercopas de Espana.
• The Ballon d’Or Monopoly: Messi won four consecutive Ballons d’Or (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012) while playing under Pep, completely sweeping the global award for the entirety of their partnership.

Four years ago, Messi captured the World Cup to secure the final missing piece of his legendary trophy cabinet. Now, fans worldwide are wondering whether Cristiano Ronaldo, who has his sights set on the title, can replicate that fairytale ending in what is widely expected to be his final appearance on the global stage.

Lugano believes the path is cleared for the Portuguese icon to do just that, suggesting that the off-field narrative will shift heavily in favor of the Europeans to get as many penalties as possible to advance.

“Portugal are contenders because Cristiano is going to have penalties awarded in his favor, just like Messi had in Qatar,” Lugano said for ESPN Brazil, referring to Argentina’s five penalties in 2022. “That is the reality. There is going to be a favorable energy to avoid generating controversy, (laughs).”

Portugal face an intriguing Group in the 2026 World Cup

Situated in Group K, Portugal will square off against DR Congo, Uzbekistan, and Colombia in the opening stage of the tournament. While many analysts expect Ronaldo’s side to comfortably top the group, the collection of teams presents some fascinating challenges.

Colombia enter the tournament as one of the major frontrunners from South America. Projections suggest that Luis Diaz and his teammates possess the quality to make a deep top-four run, and they could easily challenge Portugal for the top spot in the group.

Meanwhile, DR Congo and Uzbekistan are both viewed as dangerous dark horses. With the eight best third-placed teams across the tournament advancing to the newly expanded Round of 32, the fight for every single point will significantly heighten the competitiveness of each group fixture.

Diego Lugano does not see Uruguay as a top contender

Despite his deep ties as a legendary captain for Uruguay, Lugano is taking a strictly objective approach to his tournament evaluation. The former defender pointed to Brazil as the South American nation best equipped to make a deep run in North America, ranking them ahead of Uruguay, Argentina, and Colombia.

“Brazil is the South American team I have the highest expectations for to go far,” Lugano said about the nation managed by Carlo Ancelotti. “They will build momentum as the tournament progresses.”

The most delicate case might be of goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who is dealing with a fractured finger on his hand. Messi, meanwhile, continues recovering from a hamstring inflammation, although he is expected to be in optimal condition for the opening match against Algeria.

Cristian Romero is in the final stage of his recovery from a lateral knee ligament injury, while right-backs Nahuel Molina and Gonzalo Montiel are both dealing with muscle tears.

Nicolas Gonzalez is also carrying a muscle tear, Nicolas Paz is dealing with a knee contusion, Thiago Almada is suffering from muscle overload, and Julian Alvarez has an ankle sprain. Leandro Paredes also raised concerns in his latest appearance for his club, after suffering a hamstring strain.

Argentina’s warm-up matches

The Argentine national team, led by Lionel Scaloni, is already hard at work training at its base camp in Kansas City. The squad is fully focused on its upcoming preparation matches, with two international friendlies scheduled just days apart: first against Honduras this Saturday, followed by a clash against Iceland next Tuesday.

Chasing back-to-back World Cup titles

In Group J of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Argentina will debut against Algeria on June 17 at the Kansas City Stadium. For their second fixture, the national team will travel to the AT&T Stadium to face Austria on June 22 in Dallas. Finally, the Albiceleste will wrap up the group stage on June 28 against Jordan, playing once again at the Dallas Stadium. Defending their Qatar 2022 crown, Argentina will be looking to join the list of consecutive World Cup champions.

Argentina’s opponent has already suffered a setback

Austria have suffered a devastating blow just ahead of the World Cup, as Christoph Baumgartner has been officially ruled out of the entire tournament. The RB Leipzig star sustained a serious muscle injury in his right thigh on Monday, during the warm-up session just before friendly match against Tunisia.

Following an MRI scan on Tuesday morning, the Austrian Football Association confirmed the severe extent of the tear, completely shattering his hopes of facing Argentina and forcing manager Ralf Rangnick to quickly search for a replacement.

From his second appearance in South Africa 2010 onwards, Messi fully took ownership of the iconic number 10 for Argentina. Who will wear that number for Spain? Barcelona player Dani Olmo.

Luis de la Fuente is hoping to have Lamine Yamal available as soon as possible for the tournament. The young talent is already a reality and will look to carve out his own legacy at the World Cup, distancing himself in some way from what the Argentine star has achieved, and beginning to forge his own path on soccer’s biggest stage.

Spain’s squad numbers for the World Cup

Lamine Yamal will wear number 19, David Raya the number 1, Rodri the number 16, and Gavi will take the number 9. These are Spain’s chosen squad numbers for the upcoming World Cup.

Another milestone set by Messi

When the 2026 World Cup kicks off, Lionel Messi will make history once again by becoming the first player ever to feature in six different editions of the tournament. While this historic milestone elevates his legendary status to unprecedented heights, Messi is set to share this record with Guillermo Ochoa and Cristiano Ronaldo as the only men to achieve this incredible longevity on the world stage.

Yamal’s World Cup debut

Spain will kick off their 2026 World Cup campaign in Group H, facing Cape Verde on June 15 and Saudi Arabia on June 21, both in Atlanta, before traveling to Guadalajara to play Uruguay on June 27. This tournament will mark the highly anticipated World Cup debut for young star Lamine Yamal.

Interestingly, a thrilling crossover could happen as early as the Round of 32; if Spain wins Group H and Lionel Messi’s Argentina finishes second in Group J, or vice versa, the two Barcelona icons would face each other in a massive, single-elimination knockout match.

Players such as Lothar Matthaus, Miroslav Klose, Paolo Maldini and Cristiano Ronaldo spent years climbing the tournament’s appearance rankings, setting records that once seemed untouchable.

That record now belongs to Lionel Messi. Argentina’s captain surpassed Matthaus during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and finished the tournament with 26 appearances, the most ever by a player in FIFA World Cup history.

Can Lionel Messi extend his World Cup appearances record in 2026?

Lionel Messi can extend his FIFA World Cup appearances record in 2026 if he plays for Argentina during the tournament. He holds the all-time record, a mark he set during the 2022 final against France when he surpassed Lothar Matthaus.

The Argentine captain has already been included in the squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, meaning he is set to make a historic sixth tournament appearance. No player had ever reached six World Cups before the current generation.

If Argentina advances beyond the group stage, Messi could push his total well beyond 26 matches. FIFA has identified another major milestone within reach: becoming the first player in World Cup history to reach 30 appearances.

His record was built across five tournaments between 2006 and 2022. During that span, he won the 2022 World Cup, captured two Golden Ball awards and became one of the most statistically accomplished players in FIFA history.

Matthaus’ record before Messi

Lothar Matthaus held the FIFA World Cup appearances record before Lionel Messi broke it in 2022. The Germany midfielder played 25 World Cup matches across five tournaments from 1982 through 1998.

He became one of the defining figures of World Cup history thanks to his longevity and consistency. He appeared in five different tournaments, won the World Cup with West Germany in 1990 and played in two World Cup finals.

His total of 25 matches remained unmatched for 24 years. Numerous legends—including Paolo Maldini, Miroslav Klose, Diego Maradona and Cafu—came close, but none were able to surpass Matthaus before Messi arrived in Qatar.

The record officially changed hands on December 18, 2022. Messi made his 26th World Cup appearance in Argentina’s dramatic victory over France in the final, moving past him and becoming the tournament’s all-time appearances leader.

Players close to Messi’s World Cup appearances record

Several World Cup legends have come close to Lionel Messi’s record of 26 appearances, but no player has matched or surpassed his total so far.

Behind him are retired players as Germany striker Miroslav Klose finished his World Cup career with 24 matches, while Italy defender Paolo Maldini played 23 matches.

Cristiano Ronaldo currently has 22 World Cup appearances for Portugal, placing him among the all-time leaders. The Portuguese superstar has already played in five different World Cups and is expected to participate again in 2026.

The 2026 tournament could produce another historic milestone. If both Messi and Ronaldo take the field, they will become the first two players ever to appear in six separate FIFA World Cups, extending their iconic rivalry.

Most World Cup appearances in history

Klose currently sits atop the mountain with 16 goals across four tournaments, but his historic mark is under serious threat from the world’s two biggest stars. Mbappe has already racked up 12 goals in just two World Cup appearances, while Messi sits just ahead of him with 13. With plenty of matches on deck, Klose’s record could realistically fall this summer.

Messi is already set to make history just by taking the pitch, joining Cristiano Ronaldo and Guillermo Ochoa. While the Argentine maestro already has a winner’s medal in his trophy case, rewriting the record books will require holding off Mbappe, who has made it abundantly clear he intends to dominate this era of soccer.

Argentina’s favorable group-stage draw could allow Messi to catch Klose early, as the reigning champions face off against Jordan, Austria, and Algeria. Meanwhile, Mbappe will have plenty of opportunities to feast offensively when France navigates its own group-stage matchups against Senegal, Iraq, and Norway.

All-time goal scorers list in World Cup

Messi needs just two goals to pull level with Brazilian icon Ronaldo Nazario, who banged in 15 goals over four tournament appearances. Mbappe is right on his heels, needing just three goals to match the legendary R9, a testament to how quickly the modern game’s elite are rewriting history.

Let’s break down the top 10 list of all-time goal scorers:

Is Cristiano Ronaldo even close to Messi and Mbappe?

Despite closing in on the mythical 1,000-career-goal milestone, Cristiano Ronaldo has never quite replicated that staggering volume on the World Cup stage. The Portuguese icon doesn’t even crack the tournament’s top 20 all-time list, having scored a relatively modest eight goals in 22 World Cup appearances.

That said, Ronaldo still holds the distinction of scoring in every single World Cup he has entered. He will look to extend that incredible streak to a record six consecutive tournaments this summer, with the ultimate goal of sparking a deep Portugal run and potentially finding the net enough times to crack the all-time top 10.

The inclusion of Guillermo Ochoa in the squad for Mexico ahead of the 2026 World Cup marks a major milestone in his career. With this tournament, the goalkeeper will reach his sixth World Cup appearance, joining Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, who will also have competed in six consecutive editions since 2006.

On Saturday, during the friendly matchup against Australia at the Rose Bowl where Mexico won 1-0, Guillermo Ochoa played again for El Tri after a 561-day absence, coming on as a substitute in the second half. His return was closely watched by both the coaching staff and the fans, following a prolonged period without participation in official matches for the squad.

The official 26-man squad list

There are no surprises in Javier Aguirre’s 26-man squad, although Guillermo Ochoa’s inclusion in goal stands out. Among the surprise call-ups are Carlos Acevedo, Obed Vargas, Armando Gonzalez, Alvaro Fidalgo, and young sensation Gilberto Mora, who managed to recover from pubalgia that affected him at the start of 2026.

Goalkeepers:

• Guillermo Ochoa (AEL Limassol), Raul Tala Rangel (Chivas), and Carlos Acevedo (Santos).

Defenders:

• Jorge Sanchez (PAOK), Israel Reyes (America), Cesar Montes (Lokomotiv), Johan Vasquez (Genoa), Edson Alvarez (Fenerbahce), Jesus Gallardo (Toluca), and Mateo Chavez (AZ Alkmaar).

Midfielders:

• Luis Romo (Chivas), Erik Lira (Cruz Azul), Brian Gutierrez (Chivas), Gilberto Mora (Tijuana), Alvaro Fidalgo (Real Betis), Obed Vargas (Atletico de Madrid), Orbelin Pineda (AEK), and Luis Chavez (Dinamo Moscow).

Forwards:

• Alexis Vega (Toluca), Cesar Chino Huerta (Anderlecht), Armando Hormiga Gonzalez (Chivas), Guillermo Memote Martinez (Pumas), Roberto Piojo Alvarado (Chivas), Julian Quinones (Al Qadisiya), Raul Jimenez (Fulham), and Santiago Gimenez (AC Milan).

With these 26 players, Mexico will look to make history in their home World Cup, aiming to reach beyond the famous fifth game. The combination of experience, youth, and international talent will be key for Javier Aguirre and his group to advance as far as possible in the 2026 World Cup.

Mexico’s 2026 World Cup schedule

Mexico will be in charge of getting the ball rolling in the 2026 World Cup. El Tri will inaugurate the World Cup at home by hosting South Africa on June 11, while a week later, they will travel to Guadalajara to face South Korea.

Group stage activity for Mexico will come to an end on Wednesday, June 24, once again in the Mexican capital and this time against Czechia in a matchup that could ultimately define the leadership of Group A.

Some big-time names have been called for Algeria, including goalkeeper Luca Zidane, and midfielders Nabil Bentaleb, Houssem Aouar and forwards Riyad Mahrez and Amine Gouiri.

It won’t be an easy debut for Lionel Messi and Argentina. However, they also lost in their 2022 World Cup debut only to come back and win the whole tournament. While they want to avoid that same scenario, Algeria will pose a real challenge for the defending champions.

Algeria’s style is a beautiful brand of soccer

Algeria’s soccer players have one thing in common: they are very technical and great with the ball on their feet. They are very educated in the buildup and will absolutely punish the defense if given space.

Hence, Argentina will have to be very careful when defending. As the saying goes, “the best defense is a great offense,” and that might be the case here. As long as you keep Algeria defending instead of controlling the tempo of the game, the better the chances of beating them.

Algeria’s goal for 2026 World Cup

Sharing Group J of the 2026 World Cup with Argentina, Austria, and Jordan, it’s not exactly an easy group to go through to the next round. Still, Algeria should see it as an opportunity to qualify. In fact, Austria and Algeria are almost at the same level in the FIFA Rankings.

Austria are ranked 24th before the World Cup, while Algeria are just below at 29. Hence, their level is basically the same. They will fight to get that second spot, or at least qualify as one of the best third places. As for Jordan, they’re ranked 63 in the globe.

Following a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain captured the 2025–26 UEFA Champions League title. With two Champions League medals now to his name, Dembele is drawing inevitable comparisons to the game’s greatest players.

At 29 years old, Lionel Messi had already secured four UEFA Champions League titles, all with Barcelona (2006, 2009, 2011, and 2015). By contrast, Cristiano Ronaldo had captured two Champions League medals at that same age—one with Manchester United in 2008 and another with Real Madrid in 2014—before embarking on his historic three-peat in his early 30s.

PSG can continue the dynasty

PSG manager Luis Enrique, who secured another UCL title in his career, has built a remarkably balanced squad in Paris. Blending veteran experience with emerging youth, the Spanish tactician has guided the French powerhouse to back-to-back Champions League titles since taking over the helm in 2023.

Luis Enrique’s first major statement as manager was allowing Kylian Mbappe to depart for Real Madrid. While many pundits believed the superstar’s exit would prove catastrophic, the club has instead captured the consecutive European crowns that ownership originally thought would only arrive with Mbappe on the roster.

In 2025, PSG came agonizingly close to completing one of the most dominant seasons in soccer history, missing out on the FIFA Club World Cup following a defeat to Chelsea. However, this latest Champions League triumph has fans fully believing that the dynasty will continue, with a historic three-peat firmly in sight for 2027.

Ousmane Dembele is the early frontrunner for the Ballon d’Or

By finding the back of the net in Budapest, Ousmane Dembele matched Cristiano Ronaldo in a UCL feat not seen since 2017. With another European trophy in hand, he is now aiming to retain the golden ball for a second consecutive year.

Following a sensational 2025 campaign, Dembele stands as the clear frontrunner to secure the Ballon d’Or once again. If he can replicate this club success with France at the upcoming FIFA World Cup, a starring role on the global stage would make an unassailable case for his second consecutive individual award.

Havertz scored the game-winning, title-clinching goal for Chelsea in the 2021 UEFA Champions League final against Manchester City. This time around, he’s doing his part to help another London-based club conquer Europe.

While Havertz scored against Man. City, Messi’s favorite victim was the other club in that city, Manchester United. Messi has two goals in Champions League finals, both against the Red Devils though in different years. His first was in 2009, as Barcelona defeated Cristiano Ronaldo’s Man. U in Rome.

Messi’s second goal in a UCL final was the game-winner at Wembley Stadium in 2011, when Barcelona defeated Man. United 3-1. In 2015, Barcelona defeated Juventus by a score of 3-1, but Messi didn’t score as he hoisted the trophy for the fourth time in his career.

Havertz strikes again

“Cobra Kai” is proving to be clutch, once more. So far in his career, he’s appeared in two Champions League finals, and he’s found the back of the net in both ocassions. Thus, Arsenal‘s German striker has a better scoring average in finals than Messi in title games, with an average of a goal per final.

Messi has won four Champions League in his career, but only played in three finals—he missed the 2005-06 final with a muscle injury. Having scored twice in three games, he has an average of 0.66 goals in finals.

Havertz tied for third most goals in finals

With his second goal in a final, Havertz has joined an extensive list of players to score two goals in Champions League finals. The list includes the likes of Messi, Samuel Eto’o, Sergio Ramos, and Desire Doue, among many others.

Ronaldo is in the lead thanks to his four tallies (one with Manchester United and three with Real Madrid) in title-deciding showdowns. The Portuguese is followed by Gareth Bale with three goals.

In front of the net, Franco Armani was left off the roster as Juan Musso earns his place, while the defensive unit will be without German Pezzella, Marcos Acuna, and Juan Foyth, who make way for Leonardo Balerdi and Facundo Medina. Meanwhile, the midfield features the absences of Guido Rodriguez and Alejandro Gomez, as their spots were taken by Giovani Lo Celso and Valentin “Colo” Barco.

Moving to the attacking line, which is spearheaded by Lionel Messi, the squad no longer features Angel Di Maria, Paulo Dybala, and Angel Correa, but instead counts on the presence of Nicolas Gonzalez, Nicolas Paz, Giuliano Simeone, and Jose Manuel Lopez.

Argentina final roster for the 2026 World Cup

Following the absence of several world champions from the previous edition, there are new presences and young players who have the hunger to fight for and conquer the most prestigious trophy in the world, combining with the experienced players from the group that achieved it.

There are several young names in Argentina, such as Juan Musso, Valentin Barco, Nicolas Paz, and Giuliano Simeone, who will have the opportunity to play in their first World Cup, surely fulfilling a dream while being alongside Lionel Messi. Here is the list of the 26 players called up:

Goalkeepers (3)

• Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
• Geronimo Rulli (Olympique de Marsella)
• Juan Musso (Atletico de Madrid)

Defenders (8)

• Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate)
• Nahuel Molina (Atletico de Madrid)
• Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United)
• Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica)
• Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique de Marsella)
• Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur)
• Facundo Medina (Olympique de Marsella)
• Nicolas Tagliafico (Olympique de Lyon)

Midfielders (7)

• Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors)
• Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami)
• Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen)
• Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea)
• Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool)
• Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis)
• Valentin Barco (Racing de Estrasburgo)

Forwards (8)

• Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
• Nicolas Paz (Como)
• Thiago Almada (Atletico de Madrid)
• Nicolas Gonzalez (Atletico de Madrid)
• Giuliano Simeone (Atletico de Madrid)
• Lautaro Martinez (Inter de Milan)
• Jose Manuel Lopez (Palmeiras)
• Julian Alvarez (Atletico de Madrid)

Lionel Scaloni’s list includes 16 of the 26 players who were consecrated with the Albiceleste in Qatar 2022; however, nine were no longer in the orbit of the selection, with the only one remaining being Marcos Acuna, who doesn’t make it.