Lionel Messi included in Argentina’s squad for October international break

Published at :October 6, 2023 at 4:13 AM

Modified at :October 6, 2023 at 4:13 AM

Argentina will play Paraguay and Peru

Manager Lionel Scaloni has named Lionel Messi, the skipper and icon of Argentina, to the team for this month's international matches. The Inter Miami attacker has only made one club appearance since the most recent international break in September.

Despite the fact that the 36-year-old has played just 37 minutes of football since September 8, Lionel Messi has been invited by Lionel Scaloni. That day, he took the field against Ecuador and netted a goal before being replaced late in the game due to exhaustion.

Talented Inter Miami players Facundo Farias, Lucas Esquivel, Marco Pellegrino, Carlos Alcaraz, and Bruno Zapelli are among the 33 players picked by Scaloni for the team. According to writer Esteban, the kids will practise with the U-23 team coached by former Barcelona defender Javier Mascherano.

Coach Lionel Scaloni also selected Atlanta United's Thiago Almada and FC Dallas' Alan Velasco for the teams' September matches against Ecuador and Bolivia.

Messi, 36, signed with Inter Miami in July and has since scored 11 goals for the team.

Argentina, the 2022 World Cup champion, will host Paraguay on September 13 in Buenos Aires before travelling to play Peru five days later.

Argentina squad for October international matches

Goalkeepers: Franco Armani (River Plate), Walter Benítez (PSV Eindhoven), Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa), and Juan Musso (Atalanta).

Defenders: Lucas Martinez (Athletico Paranaense), Juan Foyth (Villarreal), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid), Gonzalo Montiel (Nottingham Forest), Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica), Germán Pezzella (Real Betis), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), Marcos Pellegrino (Bournemouth) and Nicolás Tagliafico (Lyon), Marcus Acuna (Sevilla)

Midfielders: Thiago Almada (Atlanta United), Carlos Alcaraz (Brighton), Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid), Enzo Fernández (Chelsea), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Leandro Paredes (AS Roma), Guido Rodríguez (Real Betis) and Bruno Zapelli (Athletico Paranaense).

Forwards: Julián Álvarez (Manchester City), Lucas Beltran (Fiorentina), Nicolas Gonzalez (Fiorentina), Ángel Correa (Atletico Madrid), Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United), Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) and Facundo Farias (Inter Miami).