BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentina is proving it can win without Lionel Messi, just in case he opts not to play in the 2026 World Cup. After Argentina secured a spot in next year’s competition, the main question now is whether the 37-year-old star will play in his sixth tournament and try to win back-to-back championships.

Mario Kempes, the legendary striker and 1978 World Cup champion with Argentina, offered his candid opinion on the heated debate between Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona. Mario Alberto Kempes, one of the most iconic players in Argentina’s history,

Without legends Lionel Messi and Neymar, Argentina and Brazil have confirmed the lineup for the 2026 World Cup qualifier game.