Lionel Messi, the world-renowned footballer, will captain Argentina in their upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Bolivia. This marks Messi’s return to international football after joining Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami.
Coach Lionel Scaloni has named a 32-man squad that includes several experienced players such as Angel Di Maria and defender Nicolas Otamendi. Additionally, the squad features young talents Alan Velasco of FC Dallas, Bruno Zapelli, and Lucas Esquivel from Brazilian side Athletico Paranaense, as well as Lucas Beltran, who has joined Italy’s Fiorentina.
Notably, AS Roma striker Paulo Dybala and Ajax Amsterdam goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli will miss the qualifiers due to injuries.
Argentina will host Ecuador in Buenos Aires on September 7 and then travel to face Bolivia five days later.
Squad:
Goalkeepers:
Juan Musso (Atalanta)
Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
Walter Benitez (PSV Eindhoven)
Franco Armani (River Plate)
Defenders:
Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid)
German Pezzella (Real Betis)
Gonzalo Montiel (Nottingham Forest)
Juan Foyth (Villarreal)
Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth)
Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United)
Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur)
Nicolas Tagliafico (Olympique Lyonnais)
Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica)
Lucas Esquivel (Athletico Paranaense)
Midfielders:
Leandro Paredes (AS Roma)
Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid)
Guido Rodriguez (Real Betis)
Facundo Buonanotte (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea)
Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool)
Exequiel Palacios (Bayern Leverkusen)
Bruno Zapelli (Athletico Paranaense)
Forwards:
Lucas Beltran (Fiorentina)
Nicolas Gonzalez (Fiorentina)
Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan)
Angel Correa (Atletico Madrid)
Julian Alvarez (Manchester City)
Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United)
Angel Di Maria (Benfica)
Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
Alan Velasco (FC Dallas)
Thiago Almada (Atlanta United)
