Lionel Messi Picks Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal Over Argentina as World Cup Favorites
With the 2026 World Cup just over a month away, soccer fans are bracing for what will likely be the final tournament for Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, two of the greatest players ever to play the game.
Argentina enters the competition as the defending champions, carrying the weight of fans worldwide after their victory in Qatar when they beat France in the final.
As the World Cup draws closer, Lionel Messi has shared his thoughts on which teams he views as the genuine favorites to win the tournament.
Lionel Messi Names the World Cup Favourites
In a recent interview with Argentine journalist Pollo Álvarez, Messi discussed which teams he believes are the frontrunners for the 2026 World Cup.
Instead of naming Argentina as the clear leader, he pointed to several European and South American rivals that he feels are currently in a better position.
"We have to realize that ahead of us there are other favorites, who are arriving in better shape," Messi told Álvarez.
The Inter Miami star specifically highlighted France, noting their consistent performance at the highest level and also their talented squad which includes the likes of Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and Michael Olise to name a few.
Messi also named Spain and Brazil as contenders that can never be overlooked, regardless of their form.
"France is very strong again; it has tons of players at a very high level. Spain and Brazil, which, even though they haven't been at their best for a little while, are always contenders," he said.
Interestingly, Messi also included Portugal in his list of teams who he believes are bigger favorites over Argentina. His reasoning was based on the current quality and balance of the Portuguese squad.
Lionel Messi y sus CANDIDATOS para el Mundial 2026, con el @polloalvarezok:
— Ataque Futbolero (@AtaqueFutbolero) May 8, 2026
"Hay que saber que por delante de nosotros hay OTROS FAVORITOS, que llegan mejor.
FRANCIA está muy bien otra vez, tiene muchísimos jugadores de un gran nivel.
ESPAÑA, BRASIL, que aunque hace un… pic.twitter.com/BAt5LL0OKu
He described them as a "very competitive team," suggesting that their depth and recent performances across various positions make them a more polished unit heading into the tournament.
Despite Messi's picks, Argentina will still be a top choice to win the tournament and could become one of the few teams to ever win two World Cups in a row.
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This story was originally published May 8, 2026 at 8:12 AM.