Lionel Messi will captain defending world champions Argentina in his record sixth World Cup appearance in North America this summer, Yankee Scores reports…
Historic Six World Cups
The 38-year-old was selected in coach Lionel Scaloni’s squad of 26 players on Thursday. Messi and Ronaldo look set to be the first players in history to appear in six World Cups.
The selection had been in doubt after Messi walked off the pitch in the 73rd minute of Inter Miami’s MLS clash against the Philadelphia Union last week.
The Inter Miami had announced that Messi has muscle fatigue in his left hamstring, after his initial diagnosis of overload. Whether Messi will be available and when is dependent on his daily recovery.
Argentina World Cup Schedule
In the group stage of the World Cup, Argentina will play Algeria, Austria, and Jordan, starting on June 16 in Kansas City.
The Argentine national team will also play friendlies against Honduras and Iceland for World Cup preparation.
Returning are teammates of Messi at Inter Miami, Rodrigo De Paul, Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández, and Atletico Madrid striker Julián Alvarez.
Also included in the squad is goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who injured his right ring finger in the final match of the Europa League last week where Aston Villa defeated Freiburg.
Scaloni included defender Cristian Romero, who recently sprained his ligament in the right knee at Tottenham since mid-April, and fullbacks Nahuel Molina and Gonzalo Montiel, who scored the decisive penalties in the World Cup shootout win over France in 2002, in the squad. Both players are nursing muscle injuries.
Franco Mastantuono of Real Madrid, Marcos Senesi of Bournemouth, and Aston Villa midfielder Emiliano Buendía were the notable names that were snubbed.
World Cup Squad
Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa FC), Gerónimo Rulli (Olympique de Marseille), Juan Musso (Atletico Madrid).
Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid), Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United), Nicolas Otamendi (FC Benfica), Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique de Marseille), Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur), Nicolas Tagliafico (LOSC), Facundo Medina (Olympique de Marseille).
Midfielders: Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis), Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors), Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami CF), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea FC), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool FC), Valentín Barco (RC Strasbourg Alsace).
Strikers: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami CF), Nicolaz Gonzalez (Atlético Madrid), Guiliano Simeone (Atlético Madrid), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan), José Manuel López (Palmeiras), Julián Álvarez (Atlético Madrid), Thiago Almada (Lyon), Nico Paz (Como).
