DeskReport
Lionel Messi missed the World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil in March due to injury. Lionel Messi returned to the Argentina team after two matches. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has named the captain in the preliminary squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Colombia next month.
Even without Messi, Argentina booked their place in the 2026 World Cup by beating Uruguay and Brazil in March. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner was also in the starting line-up. Scaloni left him out of the starting line-up after he picked up an injury while playing for Inter Miami. Along with Messi, Manchester United forward Alejandro Garnacho and midfielder Giovani Lo Celso have also returned to the squad. Paulo Dybala was not included in the 28-man squad. The 31-year-old forward was also not in the March squad due to injury.
Nicolas Dominguez has returned to the team after a long absence. The Nottingham Forest central midfielder last played for the national team in 2021. Left-back Valentin Berco also returns. The 20-year-old played his only match for Argentina in March 2024.
Argentina will play in Chile on June 5. The reigning World Cup winners will take on Colombia at home on June 10. Argentina defeated Brazil 4-1 at home after winning 1-0 in Uruguay in March. Argentina are top of the Latin American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup with 31 points from 14 matches, with 10 wins and one draw.
Argentina’s starting line-up for the Chile-Colombia match:
Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Jerónimo Rulli (Olympique Marseille), Walter Benítez (PSV Eindhoven)
Defenders: Nahuel Molina (Atlético Madrid), Juan Foyth (Villarreal), Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur), Leonardo Belardi (Olympique Marseille), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Facundo Medina (London), Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon), Valentin Berco (Strasbourg)
Midfielders: Alexis May Allister (Liverpool), Leandro Paredes (Roma), Nicolas Domínguez (Nottingham Forest), Ezequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Rodrigo Di Paul (Atletico Madrid), Thiago Almada (Lyon), Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea), Nicolas Paz (Como)
Forward: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Julián Álvarez (Atletico Madrid), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan), Valentin Casteianos (Lazio), Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United), Nicolas Gonzales (Juventus), Juliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid), Ángel Correia (Atletico Madrid).
