Argentina announce preliminary squad for June World Cup qualifiers; Lionel Messi included

La Albiceleste will face Chile and Colombia in the qualifiers.

After missing the March matches against Uruguay and Brazil due to injury, Lionel Messi was called up on Thursday in Argentina’s provisional team of 28 players for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers next month.

After defeating Uruguay 1-0 in March and beating rivals Brazil 4-1, defending champions Argentina have already guaranteed their spot at the 2026 World Cup without Messi. They will play Chile and Colombia in June.

“It’s a shame to miss these two very special matches with the national team against Uruguay and Brazil,” Messi wrote in an Instagram story after he was forced to withdraw with a groin strain.

“As always, I wanted to be there, but at the last moment, a not-so-serious injury that forced me to rest for a while before returning to play kept me out.”

Later that month, Messi made his comeback to Inter Miami, where he has already scored six goals across all competitions.

In addition, the 37-year-old will play in the FIFA Club World Cup, where Inter Miami’s campaign begins on June 14, four days after Argentina’s match against Colombia.

Nicolas Dominguez, a midfielder for Nottingham Forest who last played for Argentina in 2021, has also been selected by manager Lionel Scaloni.

The list also includes forward Valentin Castellanos and defender Valentin Barco, who haven’t played for Argentina since last year.

Argentina announce provisional squad for June World Cup qualifiers

Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Geronimo Rulli (Olympique de Marseille) and Walter Benitez (PSV Eindhoven).

Defenders: Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid), Juan Foyth (Villarreal), Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur), Leonardo Balerdi (Marseille), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Facundo Medina (RC Lens), Nicolas Tagliafico (Olympique Lyonnais) and Valentin Barco (Strasbourg).

Midfielders: Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Leandro Paredes (Roma), Nicolas Dominguez (Nottingham Forest), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Rodrigo de Paul (Atletico), Thiago Almada (Lyon), Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea) and Nicolas Paz (Como).

Forwards: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Julian Alvarez (Atletico), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan), Valentin Castellanos (Lazio), Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United), Nicolas Gonzalez (Fiorentina), Giuliano Simeone (Atletico) and Angel Correa (Atletico).

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