Lionel Messi, Argentina’s star forward, returns to the team for two World Cup qualifiers later this month after being named to coach Lionel Scaloni’s squad on Friday.
The inclusion of seven teenagers playing for European academy teams, including Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho, was a big surprise.
Garnacho, who was born in Spain to Argentine parents, moved from Atletico Madrid to Manchester two years ago but has yet to play for the first team.
He did, however, catch the eye earlier this season when he scored a stunning length-of-the-field solo goal against Everton in the FA Youth Cup.
Lionel Messi, Argentina’s star forward, returns for two games.
Garnacho, like the 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 Soule of Juventus, and Lucas Romero of Lazio — qualifies to play for another country.
Scaloni has rushed to include them in his senior plans in an attempt to bind their futures to the two-time World Cup champions.
Garnacho and Paz, the son of former Argentina international Pablo Paz, have already represented Spain at the youth level.
Messi, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, missed the previous two qualifiers in January after contracting Covid in December.
Lionel Messi, Argentina’s star forward, returns for two games.
However, the 35-year-old captain, most-capped player, and record goalscorer for his country will be available to face Venezuela in Buenos Aires on March 25 and Ecuador in Quito four days later.
Scaloni, on the other hand, will be without four suspended players: goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, defender Cristian Romero, and midfielders Giovani Lo Celso and Emiliano Buendia.
FIFA suspended all four as punishment for the World Cup qualifier against Brazil that was canceled in September.
When they lined up for their national team in Sao Paulo, all four were accused of violating quarantine rules by Brazilian health officials.
The match was called off after only five minutes due to the presence of four players in Argentina’s squad, which sparked a sideline brawl and resulted in both teams walking off the field.
At the time, all four were playing club football in England — Lo Celso has since joined Villarreal on loan from Tottenham — and were subject to stricter health protocols in Brazil than players from other countries.
FIFA also fined the Argentine and Brazilian football federations and ordered the match to be replayed.
Both have already qualified for the World Cup finals in Qatar later this year and are undefeated in qualification.
