Messi Named in Argentina Squad for World Cup Qualifiers

Barcelona star Lionel Messi has been selected for their opening 2022 World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Bolivia in Argentina's preliminary 23 man squad.

The 32-year-old leads an attack that also involves Sergio Aguero from Manchester City, Paulo Dybala's Juventus striker, and Lautaro Martinez from Inter Milan.

Five days later the Albiceleste would meet Ecuador in Buenos Aires on March 26 and Bolivia in La Paz as part of the qualifying tournament in the South American field. Messi's missed the first match due to a ban.

Head coach Lionel Scaloni has called up five players based in Italy amid the emergency coronavirus initiatives in the region, which include travel restrictions and a moratorium on public gatherings.

All sport in Italy-including Series A-has been halted while local authorities attempt to fight the infection until at least April 3.

Scaloni is expected to add at least two Argentina-based players to the squad over the next fortnight.

Argentina squad:

Goalkeepers: Juan Musso (Udinese)

Defenders: Nehuen Perez (Famalicao), Nicolas Otamendi (Manchester City), Renzo Saravia (Internacional), German Pezzella (Fiorentina), Nicolas Tagliafico (Ajax), Leonardo Balerdi (Borussia Dortmund)

Midfielders: Guido Rodriguez (Real Betis), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Roberto Pereyra (Watford), Rodrigo De Paul (Udinese), Marcos Acuna (Sporting Lisbon), Leandro Paredes (Paris Saint-Germain), Nicolas Dominguez (Bologna), Giovani Lo Celso (Tottenham), Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton)

Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City), Lucas Ocampos (Sevilla), Lucas Alario (Bayer Leverkusen), Nicolas Gonzalez (Stuttgart), Paulo Dybala (Juventus) and Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan).

Source: Xinhua