Injured Argentina captain Lionel Messi was left out of the squad announced on Monday by the Argentine FA for next month's South American World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Colombia.
The 37-year-old Messi was not included in the 28-man squad following an ankle injury sustained during last month's Copa America final in the United States.
The Inter Miami player is currently recovering at his club.
Messi not playing for Argentina this September
The chosen ones for the next two games of the ! pic.twitter.com/dzW9LeDFw5
— Selección Argentina in English (@AFASeleccionEN) August 19, 2024
Lionel Messi will not be part of Argentina’s squad for the World Cup qualifying matches on September 5 and 10.
This likely means Lionel Messi won’t be fit for the two MLS matches against FC Cincinnati and Chicago Fire before the international break.Does Lionel Messi play in a… pic.twitter.com/48HxA5lgK6
— 90min_US (@90min_us) August 19, 2024
River Plate goalkeeper Franco Armani was also left out of the squad, as was striker Angel Di Maria, who announced his retirement from the national team after the Copa America.
Coach Lionel Scaloni named midfielder Ezequiel Fernandez and striker Valentin Castellanos for the first time, along with young players with few international caps, including Alejandro Garnacho, Valentin Carboni, Valentin Barco and Matias Soule.
Argentina host Chile at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires on Sept. 5 before facing Colombia five days later in Barranquilla.
Argentina September World Cup qualifying squad
Goalkeepers:
- Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa).
- Walter Benitez (PSV Eindhoven)
- Geronimo Rulli (Olympique de Marseille)
- Juan Musso (Atalanta)
Defenders:
- Gonzalo Montiel (Sevilla)
- Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid)
- Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur)
- Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United)
- Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica)
- German Pezzella (River Plate)
- Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique Marseille)
- Nicolas Tagliafico (Olympique Lyonnais)
- Valentin Barco (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Midfielders:
- Guido Rodriguez (West Ham United)
- Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool)
- Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea)
- Giovani Lo Celso (Tottenham Hotspur)
- Ezequiel Fernandez (Al Qadsiah)
- Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid)
- Nicolas Gonzalez (Fiorentina)
- Leandro Paredes (AS Roma)
Forwards:
- Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United)
- Matias Soule (AS Roma)
- Giuliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid)
- Valentin Carboni (Olympique Marseille)
- Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid)
- Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan)
- Valentin Castellanos (Lazio)
(Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico City; additional reporting by Ramiro Scandolo; editing by Clare Fallon)
