Messi to lead Argentina squad at WC qualifiers

Argentina’s national team unveiled a revamped 31-man squad on Monday, led by Lionel Messi, for the South American qualifiers against Venezuela and Ecuador for the 2026 World Cup.

Alongside captain Messi, the squad features several young Argentine talents, including Manchester City striker Claudio Echeverri, Porto midfielder Alan Varela, and recent Real Madrid signing Franco Mastantuono.

Coach Lionel Scaloni also called up striker Jose Manuel Lopez from Brazilian club Palmeiras for the first time.

Lopez caught the eye of coach Scaloni for his goal-scoring output at Palmeiras, where he joined in 2022 from Lanús. Tall at 1.9 meters, the center forward has 15 goals in 42 matches this year.

The Argentines will be without Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez, who received a two-match suspension for his sending off against Colombia in June. Instead, Alan Varela, a star of Porto in Portugal, was chosen.

Argentina will play Venezuela at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires on September 4, before traveling to Guayaquil to play Ecuador five days later.

Having already qualified for the World Cup, the “Albiceleste” lead the qualifiers with 35 points, 10 points ahead of Ecuador in second place and Brazil in third.

The team also includes young talents like Real Madrid’s recent signing Franco Mastantuono and Manchester City’s Claudio Echeverri.

Meanwhile, Kerala Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman on Saturday reiterated that the Argentina football team, along with captain Lionel Messi, will arrive in Kerala in November to play a football match.

Incidentally, last week the Congress top leadership, including its state party president Sunny Joseph, took pot shots, asking Abdurahiman to come clean and said after raising high hopes over the news of Messi.

Agencies

BUENOS AIRES: Argentina’s national team unveiled a revamped 31-man squad on Monday, led by Lionel Messi, for the South American qualifiers against Venezuela and Ecuador for the 2026 World Cup.

Alongside captain Messi, the squad features several young Argentine talents, including Manchester City striker Claudio Echeverri, Porto midfielder Alan Varela, and recent Real Madrid signing Franco Mastantuono.

Coach Lionel Scaloni also called up striker Jose Manuel Lopez from Brazilian club Palmeiras for the first time.

Lopez caught the eye of coach Scaloni for his goal-scoring output at Palmeiras, where he joined in 2022 from Lanús. Tall at 1.9 meters, the center forward has 15 goals in 42 matches this year.

The Argentines will be without Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez, who received a two-match suspension for his sending off against Colombia in June. Instead, Alan Varela, a star of Porto in Portugal, was chosen.

Argentina will play Venezuela at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires on September 4, before traveling to Guayaquil to play Ecuador five days later.

Having already qualified for the World Cup, the “Albiceleste” lead the qualifiers with 35 points, 10 points ahead of Ecuador in second place and Brazil in third.

The team also includes young talents like Real Madrid’s recent signing Franco Mastantuono and Manchester City’s Claudio Echeverri.

Meanwhile, Kerala Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman on Saturday reiterated that the Argentina football team, along with captain Lionel Messi, will arrive in Kerala in November to play a football match.

Incidentally, last week the Congress top leadership, including its state party president Sunny Joseph, took pot shots, asking Abdurahiman to come clean and said after raising high hopes over the news of Messi.

Agencies