A 26-man roster for the World Cup in Qatar, which runs from November 20 to December 18, led by Lionel Messi, was announced on Friday by Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni. Forward Paulo Dybala, who is injured, made the cut.
Argentina reveals its World Cup Team:
Despite not having played for his club AS Roma since early October, Dybala has been selected in the team as Argentina hopes he can get back in shape before their World Cup campaign kicks off on November 22 against Group C rival Saudi Arabia.
Angel Di Maria and Nicolas Otamendi, both veterans who helped Argentina win the Copa America championship last year, will be playing alongside Messi, 35, in his sixth World Cup. He will also be joined by young players who will compete for Argentina.
“Let’s hope that you as supporters are as proud of them as they are to be called up and wear this shirt. In a video posted to Instagram, coach Scaloni remarked, “All united.
In Group C, Argentina will also face Mexico and Poland.
ARGENTINA SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Geronimo Rulli, Franco Armani, and Emiliano Martinez, all of Aston Villa (Villarreal)
Defenders include German Pezzella of Real Betis, Nahuel Molina of Atletico Madrid, Cristian Romero of Tottenham Hotspur, Nicolas Otamendi of Benfica, Lisandro Martinez of Manchester United, Juan Foyth of Villarreal, Nicolas Tagliafico of Olympiacos, and Marcos Acuna of Sevilla (Sevilla)
Leandro Paredes of Juventus, Guido Rodriguez of Real Betis, Enzo Fernandez of Benfica, Rodrigo De Paul of Atletico Madrid, Exequiel Palacios of Bayer Leverkusen, Alejandro Gomez of Sevilla, and Alexis Mac Allister are all midfielders (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Paulo Dybala of AS Roma, Lionel Messi of Paris Saint-Germain, Angel Di Maria of Juventus, Nicolas Gonzalez of Fiorentina, Joaquin Correa of Inter Milan, Lautaro Martinez of Inter Milan, and Julian Alvarez of Inter Milan are among the forwards (Manchester City).