Lionel Messi will return to the international stage soon, with Argentina national team manager Lionel Scaloni counting on the Inter Miami star for the March international window.
However, La Albiceleste will take on El Salvador and Costa Rica without nine members of their World Cup-winning roster at Qatar 2022. Some of them are out due to injury, while others were simply not in consideration this time.
Gonzalo Montiel, Lisandro MartĆnez, Marcos AcuƱa, Guido RodrĆguez, and Juan Foyth have all been ruled out due to fitness, whereas Geronimo Rulli and Angel Correaās absences were Scaloniās decision.
Another world champ missing in March will be Alejandro āPapuā Gomez, who hasnāt played for Argentina since the 2-1 win over Australia in the 2022 World Cup round of 16.
Lionel Messi in action for Argentina
Atlanta United sensation Thiago Almada is not part of the March squad either, but because heāll continue training with the U23 team ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Argentina change location and opponents
Argentina were originally expected to travel to Asia to face Nigeria and Ivory Coast, but China decided to cancel their matches following Messiās no-show for an exhibition match against the Hong Kong XI during Inter Miamiās preseason this year.
In the end, the reigning world champions will play two friendlies in the United States. On March 22, Messi and company will play El Salvador at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Four days later, Argentina will take on Costa Rica at the United Airlines Field at the Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles.
Argentinaās 26-man roster for March friendlies
Goalkeepers:
- Walter BenĆtez
- Emiliano MartĆnez
- Franco Armani
Defenders:
- GermƔn Pezzella
- NehuƩn PƩrez
- NicolƔs Otamendi
- Cristian Romero
- NicolƔs Tagliafico
- Marcos Senesi
- Nahuel Molina
- ValentĆn Barco
Midfielders:
- Exequiel Palacios
- Rodrigo De Paul
- Leandro Paredes
- Alexis Mac Allister
- Enzo FernƔndez
- Giovani Lo Celso
- NicolƔs GonzƔlez
- Alejandro Garnacho
- Facundo Buonanotte
- ValentĆn Carboni
Forwards:
- Ćngel Di MarĆa
- Lionel Messi
- JuliĆ”n Ćlvarez
- Lautaro MartĆnez
- Paulo Dybala
