Injured ahead Paulo Dybala made the minimize as Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni named on Friday his 26-man squad for the Nov. 20-Dec. 18 World Cup in Qatar, the place Lionel Messi will lead the facet.
Dybala has not performed for his membership AS Roma since early October however has been named within the squad as Argentina hope he regains his health earlier than their World Cup marketing campaign begins on Nov. 22 in opposition to Group C opponents Saudi Arabia.
Messi, 35, can be taking part in in his fifth World Cup and can be accompanied by fellow veterans Angel Di Maria and Nicolas Otamendi together with recent faces who helped Argentina win the Copa America title final yr.
“They’re proud to be referred to as up and put on this jersey, let’s hope that you simply as followers are too. All collectively,” coach Scaloni mentioned in an Instagram video.
Argentina can be with out providers of Giovani Lo Celso, nonetheless, after the midfielder picked up a hamstring damage final month whereas taking part in for Villarreal, with Scaloni saying he was ‘irreplaceable’.
Leandro Paredes and Rodrigo De Paul can be essential in midfield whereas the defence can be led by centre again Otamendi, who’s normally partnered with Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez or Tottenham Hotspur’s Cristian Romero.
“There aren’t any phrases to explain the way it feels to listen to my title on the ultimate record. Goals do come true, let’s go Argentina,” Paredes, who didn’t make the ultimate minimize for the 2018 World Cup, mentioned on Instagram.
Manchester Metropolis ahead Julian Alvarez, 22, was named within the squad after a stellar yr the place he scored 18 objectives whereas on mortgage at Argentine membership River Plate earlier than netting seven occasions in all competitions for Premier League Metropolis.
Inter Milan ahead Lautaro Martinez, who scored 25 objectives final season and has begun this marketing campaign with eight in all competitions, is anticipated to steer the road.
Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, one among Argentina’s heroes on the Copa America final yr, may even be making his World Cup debut this yr.
Argentina additionally play Mexico and Poland in Group C.
ARGENTINA SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Franco Armani (River Plate) and Geronimo Rulli (Villarreal)
Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel (Sevilla), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid), German Pezzella (Actual Betis), Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United), Juan Foyth (Villarreal), Nicolas Tagliafico (Olympique Lyonnais), Marcos Acuna (Sevilla)
Midfielders: Leandro Paredes (Juventus), Guido Rodriguez (Actual Betis), Enzo Fernandez (Benfica), Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Alejandro Gomez (Sevilla), Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Forwards: Paulo Dybala (AS Roma), Lionel Messi (Paris St Germain), Angel Di Maria (Juventus), Nicolas Gonzalez (Fiorentina), Joaquin Correa (Inter Milan), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan), Julian Alvarez (Manchester Metropolis).