The football team Argentina announced on Tuesday the list of summoned players, led by the star Lionel Messi and with the return of the goal Emiliano ‘Dibu’ Martínezfor matches against Paraguay and Peru for the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
Martinez returns to the payroll after the two-date suspension imposed by the FIFA for “offensive behavior and his violation of the principles of fair play.”
The captain Messiwho reappeared after an injury in the previous FIFA double date with a hat-trick and two assists against Bolivia, will continue to lead the team in the final qualifying rounds until March 2025.
In the list of 28 footballers, the presence for the first time of Enzo Barrenechea23-year-old midfielder for Valencia in Spain.
In turn, as part of the renewal of the American and world champion team, coach Lionel Scaloni included the young people Alejandro Garnacho, Nicolás Paz and Facundo Buonanottefrom Manchester United, Como 1907 and Leicester, respectively.
On dates 11 and 12, Argentina will face on Thursday the 14th Paraguay as a visitor at the Defensores del Chaco stadium in Asunción, while they will host Peru on Tuesday the 19th at La Bombonera.
The Argentine national team leads the competition with 22 points in the standings, three ahead of the guard Colombia and six above Uruguay and Brazil.
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Below, those summoned:
Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa, England), Walter Benítez (PSV, Netherlands) and Gerónimo Rulli (Olympique de Marseille, France).
Defenses: Nahuel Molina (Atlético de Madrid, Spain), Gonzalo Montiel (Sevilla, Spain), Cristian Romero (Tottenham, England), Germán Pezzella (River Plate, Argentina), Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique de Marseille), Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica, Portugal) , Nehuén Pérez (Porto, Portugal), Lisandro Martínez (Manchester United, England) and Nicolás Tagliafico (Lyon, France).
Midfielders: Enzo Fernández (Chelsea, England), Leandro Paredes (Rome, Italy), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Rodrigo De Paul (Atlético de Madrid), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool, England), Giovani Lo Celso (Betis, Spain ), Enzo Barrenechea (Valencia, Spain), Thiago Almada (Botafogo, Brazil), Facundo Buonanotte (Leicester, England) and Nicolás Paz (Como 1907, Italy).
Fronts: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami, United States), Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United), Nicolás González (Juventus, Italy), Julián Álvarez (Atlético de Madrid), Lautaro Martínez (Inter, Italy) and Valentín Castellanos (Lazio, Italy). (Reporting by Ramiro Scandolo, edited by Javier Leira).
