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On Monday, March 17, the reigning champions of FIFA World Cup, Argentina announced their squad for the upcoming qualifiers, which will see them face Uruguay on March 21 and Brazil on March 25. While the Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni named a 26-member squad, one of the greats of the game, Lionel Messi was a notable absentee.
His absence will add worries for the La Albiceleste, who will fight for a spot by appearing in the South American qualifying. Several reports have added that in Messi’s absence, Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister will lead the side. Apart from this, Nicolas Paz, Benjamin Dominguez and Santiago Castro have also been named in the squad.
Why Lionel Messi will not play Argentina’s FIFA WC qualifiers vs Uruguay and Brazil?
However, a clarity still awaits on Messi’s snub, it comes after the forward reportedly suffered an injury in a club game a day before. After missing three games for Inter Miami at the start of the month, the 37-year-old returned with a goal off the bench in a CONCACAF Champions Cup. Although he played complete 90 minutes and scored again in Inter Miami's MLS win in Atlanta, but as per the Argentinian media, then felt muscle discomfort.
For the La Albiceleste, Messi is not the only absentee as they will also miss the services of Roma striker Paulo Dybala and River Plate full-back Paulo Montiel. Speaking of their position, Argentina leads the standings with 25 points after 12 matches and are just five points above second-placed Uruguay.
Argentina squad for FIFA World Cup Qualifers
Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa), Gerónimo Rulli (Olympique Marseille), Walter Benítez (PSV Eindhoven)
Defenders: Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid), Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate), Germán Pezzella (River Plate), Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique Marseille), Juan Foyth (Villarreal), Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica), Facundo Medina, (Lens), Nicolás Tagliafico (Olympique Lyon).
Midfielders: Leandro Paredes (Roma), Enzo Fernández (Chelsea), Rodrigo de Paul (Atletico Madrid), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Máximo Perrone (Como), Giuliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid), Benjamín Domínguez (Bologna), Thiago Almada (Olympique Lyon).
Forwards: Nicolás González (Juventus), Nicolás Paz (Como), Claudio Echeverri (Manchester City), Julián Álvarez (Manchester City), Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan), Santiago Castro (Bologna), Ángel Correa (Atletico Madrid).
