Argentina captain Lionel Messi will not be available for his team’s World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Colombia next month due to injury. The 37-year-old is a notable absentee from the 28-man Albiceleste roster announced on Monday as he continues his recovery process following an ankle ligament injury sustained during Argentina’s win over Colombia in the Copa America final in July, Xinhua reports. Veteran River Plate goalkeeper Franco Armani has also been ruled out, as has Roma striker Paulo Dybala.
Argentina captain Lionel Messi will miss Argentina’s World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Colombia next month due to injury. The 37-year-old is a notable absentee from the 28-man Albiceleste roster announced on Monday as he is still in the process of recovering from an ankle ligament injury sustained during the Copa America final in July, Xinhua reports. River Plate’s veteran goalkeeper Franco Armani has also been ruled out, as has Roma striker Paulo Dybala.
Midfielder Ezequiel Fernández and forward Valentín Castellanos have been called up for the first time, while young talents Alejandro Garnacho, Valentín Carboni, Valentín Barco and Matías Soulé have also been called up.
Argentina will face Chile in Buenos Aires on September 5 and will face Colombia in Barranquilla five days later.
Albiceleste currently leads the 10-team standings in the South American region with 15 points after six games.
Argentina’s squad list:
- Goalkeepers: Walter Benitez (PSV Eindhoven), Geronimo Rulli (Olympique de Marseille), Juan Musso (Atalanta), Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa).
- Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel (Sevilla), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid), Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur), German Pezzella (River Plate), Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique de Marseille), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United), Nicolas Tagliafico (Olympique Lyonnais).
- Players: Guido Rodriguez (West Ham United), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea), Giovani Lo Celso (Tottenham Hotspur), Ezequiel Fernandez (Al Qadsiah), Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid), Nicolas Gonzalez (Fiorentina), Leandro Paredes (AS Roma).
- Forwards: Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United), Matias Soule (AS Roma), Giuliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid), Valentin Carboni (Olympique de Marseille), Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan), Valentin Castellanos (Lazio).
