No Messi but plenty of youth in squad for Argentina's World Cup qualifiers

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has announced a 28-man squad for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Colombia, though injured captain Lionel Messi will miss out. 

Messi, 37, is recovering from a ligament injury to his right ankle and has been left out in order to recover fully.

The rest of the squad, which is rife with youngsters and rising stars, also does not include Ángel Di María, who has retired from international football after the recent Copa América triumph.

Veteran River Plate goalkeeper Franco Armani, was not called up. Neither were midfielder Exequiel Palacios and full-back Marcos Acuña.

Another notable absentee is Paulo Dybala, who played in Qatar in Argentina’s successful World Cup 2022 campaign but was not called up for the Copa América campaign.

Among the new call-ups are youngsters Valentín Barco, Ezequiel Fernández and Matías Soulé, Giuliano Simeone and 25-year-old Lazio striker Valentín Castellanos.

Argentina, world champions and two-time champions of the Americas, currently top the South American qualifiers. In their upcoming matches, the Albiceleste face Chile on September 5 at River Plate’s Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires and then visit Colombia on September 10. 

Squad

Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa, England), Juan Musso (Atalanta, Italy), Gerónimo Rulli (Ajax, Netherlands), Walter Benítez (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands).

Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel (Sevilla, Spain), Nahuel Molina (Atlético Madrid, Spain), Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique Marseille, France), Cristian Romero (Tottenham, England), Germán Pezzella (River Plate, Argentina), Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica, Portugal), Lisandro Martínez (Manchester United, England), Nicolás Tagliafico (Lyon, France) and Valentín Barco (Brighton, England).

Midfielders: Guido Rodríguez (West Ham United, England), Leandro Paredes (Roma, Italy), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool, England), Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid), Ezequiel Fernández (Al Qadsiah, Saudi Arabia), Enzo Fernández (Chelsea, England), Giovani Lo Celso (Tottenham) and Nicolás González (Fiorentina, Italy).

Forwards: Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United), Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan, Italy), Valentín Carboni (Monza, Italy), Julián Álvarez (Atletico Madrid), Giuliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid), Valentín Castellanos (Lazio, Italy) and Matías Soulé (Roma).

– TIMES/AFP