Messi in first Argentina squad since Copa last

Argentina nationwide staff head coach Lionel Scaloni named the 27-player roster for the October World Cup qualifiers in opposition to Venezuela and Bolivia, with Lionel Messi‘s return headlining the squad information.

Argentina at present lead the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying standings with 18 factors in eight video games, profitable 3-0 over Chile and falling 2-1 to Colombia over the last window.

Now, La Albiceleste will go to sixth-place Venezuela on Oct. 10 and host eighth-place Bolivia on Oct. 15.

The highest six groups from CONMEBOL will qualify on to the 2026 World Cup, with seventh place set to take part in an interconfederation playoff match for an opportunity to clinch a ticket to the competitors.

The Inter Miami captain returns to worldwide responsibility for the primary time since struggling a proper ankle damage in the course of the 2024 Copa América last in opposition to Colombia on July 14.

Messi consequently spent two months on the sidelines, lacking the September worldwide window.

He returned to action for Inter Miami on Sept. 14 and has performed in each sport since to slowly acquire rhythm in time for the October window.

Argentina will likely be with out Ángel Di María for the primary time since Copa América, after the participant introduced his official retirement from the nationwide staff following the match, and goalkeeper Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez.

The Aston Villa goalkeeper picked up a two-match suspension from FIFA’s disciplinary committee after displaying offensive conduct and “violating ideas of honest play.”

FIFA discovered that Martínez violated the code of conduct when holding the duplicate of the Copa América trophy to his groin space, in reference to the celebration he did on the 2022 FIFA World Cup, after the victory in opposition to Chile on Sept. 5.

The goalkeeper was then punished for shoving a camera operator’s equipment following Argentina’s 2-1 defeat in opposition to Colombia on Sept. 10.

“I settle for the sanction of the @FIFAcom and I apologize if I offended anybody, the second of celebration is to make many youngsters smile and to not disrespect anybody,” Martinez mentioned in an announcement on X.

“I’ll assist my buddies on this FIFA date with the ache of not with the ability to be there.”

The Argentine Soccer Federation (AFA) mentioned a protection was introduced by the participant and affiliation earlier than FIFA confirmed the sanctions.

“It must be famous that the Argentine Soccer Affiliation expresses its absolute disagreement with the choice taken by the FIFA disciplinary committee,” AFA mentioned in an announcement.

ARGENTINA SQUAD

GOALKEEPERS: Gerónimo Rulli, Walter Benítez, Juan Musso.

DEFENDERS: Gonzalo Montiel, Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Nicolás Otamendi, Germán Pezzella, Leonardo Balerdi, Marcos Acuña, Nicolás Tagliafico.

MIDFIELDERS: Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Leandro Paredes, Enzo Fernández, Giovani Lo Celso, Thiago Almada, Guido Rodríguez, Nico Paz.

FORWARDS: Nicolas Gonzalez, Lautaro Martínez, Alejandro Garnacho, Julián Álvarez, Valentin Carboni, Valentin Carboni, Paulo Dybala, Lionel Messi.