The 38-year-old Inter Miami striker will be playing in his sixth World Cup, extending his national record, while Emiliano Martinez, Nicolas Otamendi, Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez are among 17 returning players from the team that lifted the trophy in Qatar in 2022.
Coach Lionel Scaloni retained the core of the team that won Argentina’s third world title, although veteran winger Angel Di Maria was left out after his retirement from international football following the 2024 Copa America.
Midfielder Giovani Lo Celso, who missed the 2022 World Cup due to injury, returned for his second final after being part of Argentina’s squad in Russia in 2018 without making an appearance.
Argentina also had several young players expected to lead the next generation of the team, including Valentin Barco, Nicolas Paz and Giuliano Simeone, while forwards Jose Manuel Lopez and Thiago Almada are among those who will feature in their first World Cup.
Local media reported that left-back Marcos Acuna, who was part of the 2022 title-winning squad, had been absent due to fitness concerns.
Argentina begin their Group J campaign against Algeria on June 16 before facing Jordan and Austria.
Team
Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez, Geronimo Rulli, Juan Musso.
Defenders: Leonardo Balerdi, Gonzalo Montiel, Nicolas Tagliafico, Lisandro Martinez, Cristian Romero, Nicolas Otamendi, Facundo Medina, Nahuel Molina.
Midfield: Leandro Paredes, Rodrigo De Paul, Valentin Barco, Giovani Lo Celso, Exequiel Palacios, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez.
Advantages: Julian Alvarez, Lionel Messi, Nicolas Gonzalez, Thiago Almada, Giuliano Simeone, Nicolas Paz, José Manuel Lopez, Lautaro Martinez.
