Lionel Messi Named in Argentina’s Preliminary Squad for World Cup Qualifiers

Lionel Messi has been included in Argentina’s 28-player squad for World Cup qualifiers after missing matches against Uruguay and Brazil due to injury. Argentina has already qualified for the 2026 World Cup, and Messi, now healthy, has resumed playing with Inter Miami. Coach Scaloni has also included several players returning to the team for the upcoming qualifiers against Chile and Colombia.

In a key move for his nation’s football ambitions, Lionel Messi has been named in Argentina’s preliminary squad of 28 players for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. This announcement comes after Messi had to miss crucial matches against Uruguay and Brazil back in March due to an injury. The defending World Cup champions, Argentina, already advanced to the 2026 World Cup following a narrow victory over Uruguay, and a significant win against Brazil, demonstrating strength even in Messi’s absence.

Upon withdrawing from the previous matches, Messi expressed his disappointment via Instagram, stating, “It’s a shame to miss these two very special matches with the national team against Uruguay and Brazil. As always, I wanted to be there, but at the last moment, a not-so-serious injury that forces me to rest for a while before returning to play kept me out.”

After recovering, he returned to play for Inter Miami, contributing significantly to the team with six goals so far across all competitions. Notably, he is also set to participate in the Club World Cup, where Miami is scheduled to start their campaign on June 14—just days after Argentina faces off against Colombia.

Coach Lionel Scaloni has made some interesting choices with his squad, inserting Nottingham Forest midfielder Nicolas Dominguez, who has not represented Argentina since 2021. Additionally, Valentin Barco and Valentin Castellanos, both of whom have been absent from the national squad for over a year, made the cut in this preliminary selection.

The complete preliminary squad for Argentina includes:
– Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez, Geronimo Rulli, and Walter Benitez.
– Defenders: Nahuel Molina, Juan Foyth, Cristian Romero, Leonardo Balerdi, Nicolas Otamendi, Facundo Medina, Nicolas Tagliafico, and Valentin Barco.
– Midfielders: Alexis Mac Allister, Leandro Paredes, Nicolas Dominguez, Exequiel Palacios, Rodrigo de Paul, Thiago Almada, Giovani Lo Celso, Enzo Fernandez, and Nicolas Paz.
– Forwards: Lionel Messi, Julian Alvarez, Lautaro Martinez, Valentin Castellanos, Alejandro Garnacho, Nicolas Gonzalez, Giuliano Simeone, and Angel Correa.

Lionel Messi’s inclusion in Argentina’s preliminary 28-man squad suggests a strong commitment to reclaiming World Cup glory. Despite his absence in earlier qualifiers due to injury, the team has demonstrated resilience and skill. The upcoming matches against Chile and Colombia will be crucial as Messi aims to contribute to the national team’s efforts while simultaneously preparing for club-level challenges at the Club World Cup.

Original Source: tribune.com.pk

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