Star forward Lionel Messi returns to the Argentine fold for two World Cup qualifiers later this month, as he was included in coach Lionel Scaloni’s squad, announced on Friday.
But the big surprise was the addition of seven teenagers playing for academy teams in Europe, including Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho.
Born in Spain to Argentine parents, 17-year-old Garnacho moved from Atlético Madrid to Manchester two years ago, but has not yet played for the first team.
However, he attracted attention with a brilliant length-of-the-field solo goal against Everton in the FA Youth Cup earlier this season.
Like other young players in Scaloni’s squad – Nicolas Paz of Real Madrid, Tiago Geralnik of Villarreal, brothers Franco and Valentin Carboni of Inter Milan, Matias Sol of Juventus and Lucas Romero of Lazio – Garnacho is qualified to play for another country. .
Scoloni has been quick to include him in his senior plans in an effort to tie his future to the two-time World Cup winners.
Garnacho and Paz, sons of former Argentine international Pablo Paz, have already played for Spain’s age-grade teams.
Seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi had missed the last two qualifiers in January and contracted Kovid in December.
But the 35-year-old – his country’s captain, most capped player and record goalscorer – will be available to face Venezuela in Buenos Aires on March 25 and Ecuador in Quito four days later.
Scoloni, however, will have to do without the suspended quartet, goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, defender Cristian Romero and midfielders Giovanni Lo Celso and Emiliano Bendia.
All four were suspended by FIFA as punishment for the canceled World Cup qualifiers in Brazil in September.
Brazilian health officials accused the four of breaking quarantine rules while standing up for their national side in Sao Paulo.
Due to the presence of four players on the Argentine team, health officials stopped the match after only five minutes, causing a sideline chaos and as a result both teams walked off the field.
The four were playing their club football in England at the time – Lo Celso has since joined Villarreal on loan from Tottenham – and were subject to stricter health protocols in Brazil than players based in other countries.
FIFA also fined both the Argentine and Brazilian football federations and ordered them to replay the matches.
Both have already qualified for the World Cup final to be held in Qatar later this year and are unbeaten in qualifying.
Shaft:
Goalkeepers: Franco Armani (River Plate), Geronimo Rulli (Villarreal/ESP), Juan Musso (Atlanta/ITA)
Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel (Sevilla/ESP), Nahuel Molina (Udinese/ITA), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica/POR), Juan Foeth (Villarreal/ESP), Lucas Martínez Quarta (Fiorentina/ITA), Germán Pejella (Real Betis/ESP) ) ), Lisandro Martínez (Ajax/NED), Nicolas Tagliafico (Ajax/NED)
Midfielders: Rodrigo de Paul (Atlético Madrid/ESP), Leandro Paredes (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Guido Rodriguez (Real Betis/ESP), Execuel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen/GER), Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton/England), Lucas Ocampos (Sevilla/ESP), Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United/England), Manuel Lanzini (West Ham/England), Nicolas Paz (Real Madrid/ESP), Tiago Geralnik (Villarreal/ESP), Franco Carboni (Inter Milan/ITA) ) ), Valentin Carboni (Inter Milan/ITA)
Forwards: Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan/ITA), Nicolas Gonzalez (Fiorentina/ITA), Angel Correa (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Angel Di Maria (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA) , Julian Alvarez (River Plate), Joaquin Correa (Inter Milan/ITA), Matias Sol (Juventus/ITA), Lucas Boe (Elche/ESP), Luca Romero (Lazio/ITA)
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