BUENOS AIRES (AFP) - Lionel Messi was named in the Argentina squad on Thursday (March 7) for the first time since the World Cup, ending a self-imposed eight month exile.
Interim coach Lionel Scaloni named the five-time world player of the year in his squad for this month's friendlies against Venezuela and Morocco.
The 31-year-old Barcelona star hasn't pulled on the light blue and white national team jersey since Argentina were dumped out of the World Cup last June by eventual winners France.
Another long-term absentee, PSG's Angel Di Maria, also makes the squad, but there is no place for other veterans Sergio Aguero - despite his sparkling form for Manchester City - Chelsea's Gonzalo Higuain or Mauro Icardi of Inter.
"The World Cup was a big disappointment for everyone, for him even more so," Scaloni told reporters at Argentina's Ezeiza training center outside Buenos Aires.
"And then in the friendlies he saw us play, he liked it, and he wants to try again, and he's welcome."
Scaloni said "Messi prefers to come than to rest," despite the demands of a heavy fixture list for his club.
"Leo is being called up now, and then we'll see if he plays a match or two - or none. I don't know. That's a decision I'll take."
In all, Messi has missed six friendlies since the World Cup in Russia but many believe he will be an essential part of the team that travels to Brazil for the Copa America, which kicks off June 14.
Whilst he's built up an almost unprecedented collection of trophies with his club, Messi is running out of time to taste major international success with Argentina.
He was on the losing side in major finals three years running from 2014-16, first to Germany in the World Cup in Brazil, then twice to Chile on penalties in the Copa America, including the one-off Centenary edition of the competition.
With 65 goals in 128 appearances, Messi is Argentina's all-time top goalscorer. He's also Barca's top marksman ever with more than twice the number of goals as the next best.
But he's never managed to match his club form when operating on the international stage.
Argentina play Venezuela in Madrid on March 22 and then travel to Tangier four days later to tackle hosts Morocco.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Agustin Marchesin (Club America/MEX), Juan Musso (Udinese/ITA), Franco Armani (River Plate), Esteban Andrada (Boca Juniors)
Defenders: German Pezzella (Fiorentina/ITA), Gabriel Mercado (Sevilla/ESP), Juan Foyth (Tottenham/ENG), Nicolas Otamendi (Manchester City/ENG), Walter Kannemann (Gremio/BRA), Nicolas Tagliafico (Ajax/NED), Marcos Acuna (Sporting Lisbon/POR), Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate), Renzo Saravia (Racing Club), Lisandro Martinez (Defensa y Justicia)
Midfielders: Leandro Paredes, Angel Di Maria (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Guido Rodriguez (Club America/MEX), Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis/ESP), Manuel Lanzini (West Ham/ENG), Roberto Pereyra (Watford/ENG), Matias Zaracho (Racing Club), Ivan Marcone (Boca Juniors), Domingo Blanco (Defensa y Justicia), Rodrigo De Paul (Udinese/ITA)
Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona/ESP), Gonzalo Martinez (Atlanta United/USA), Paulo Dybala (Juventus/ITA), Angel Correa (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan/ITA), Dario Benedetto (Boca Juniors), Matias Suarez (River Plate)
LONDON: Real Madrid have knocked Manchester United off the top of Deloitte's Football Money League, but the Premier League still flexed its financial muscle, with all of England's 'Big Six
Real Madrid take top spot from Man Utd in 'money league
Kane 'proud' of England response to race jibes. during Monday's Euro 2020 qualifier in Podgorica, which England won 5-1. Kane 'proud' of England response to race jibes
Kane 'proud' of England response to race jibes
Great football comebacks to inspire Liverpool in Champions League semi-final second leg match with Barcelona The Reds are 3-0 down and without Mohamed Salah but they can still make it to Madrid
Top 10 Greatest comebacks in Champions League history
Arrizabalaga dropped as Chelsea beat Tottenham 2-0 | Free
Ikhsan Fandi starts 'adulting' in Norway, Football News & Top
AC Milan out of Europe as Eintracht fans run riot at Lazio during the UEFA Europa League football match between Ludogorets Razgrad and FC Zurich at the Ludogorets Arena in Razgrad on December
AC Milan out of Europe as Eintracht fans run riot at Lazio
Amazing away end at craven cottage The re bus keeps rollin on under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 🔴⚪️⚫️ Please try again later. MAN UTD Chants - Ole's at the wheel
How Man United can go the next 8 games unbeaten under Ole
thepeoplesperson.com/2019/02/11/how-man-united-can-go-the-next-8-games-unbeaten-under-ole-gunnar-solskjaer-205751/
Olé Gunnar Solskjaer's unbeaten run as Manchester United manager has already included some stern tests, including games at both Arsenal and Tottenham. How Man United can go the next 8 games
Manchester United vs. Bournemouth score, takeaways: Paul
"The FA strongly condemns the scenes witnessed in Porto overnight," a spokesman said. "Anyone responsible for these disturbances cannot be seen as true England supporters and are not welcome in football. "They are an embarrassment to the team and the thousands of well-behaved fans who follow England in the right way.
Violent England fans an embarrassment to the team and not
Football: We do it our way, says Klopp after another late Liverpool win SOUTHAMPTON, United States (AFP) - Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admitted his side cannot meet the heights of Manchester City's football, but they may still deny Pep Guardiola's men the title after moving top of the Premier League by beating Southampton 3-1 on Friday
We do it our way, says Klopp after another late Liverpool win
The win, which followed successive victories over Real Madrid in the league and Copa del Rey, restored Barca's seven-point gap over nearest challengers Atletico Madrid, who earned a 1-0 victory at home to Leganes. Rayo are 19th in the standings and two points from escaping the drop zone as the pressure mounts on coach Michel.
Messi shines as Barca survive scare to see off Rayo | Free
If Moyes does not add at least an attacking and a defensive midfielder to his squad this summer United will remain well short of rivals at home and abroad. Misfit Nani is unlikely to repeat last summer's about-face and remain at Old Trafford - Italy or Spain beckon for the 27-year-old winger. Meanwhile, few supporters will shed a tear if
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino has been hit with an Football Association charge for improper conduct following his side's loss at Burnley last weekend. Pochettino confronted referee Mike Dean after the game which developed into lengthy and heated exchange.
Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino hit with improper conduct
watch champions league live streaming zee tv
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming sctv
watch soccer online free streaming live app
watch champions league live streaming mobile
watch champions league live streaming now
watch premier league live streaming youtube
watch uefa champions league final live streaming free online
watch coppa america live streaming hd free
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online reddit
watch coppa america live streaming espn
watch the champions league live stream
watch champions league live streaming bein sport
watch coppa america live streaming live free
watch live soccer stream android
super soccer tv live streaming garuda select
watch english premier league live streaming hd
soccer tv live football streaming garuda select
watch champions league live streaming pc
free watch soccer live streaming
watch sky sports premier league live streaming
watch premier league live streaming zee tv
watch coppa america live streaming sub eng
watch champions league draw live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming video
watch indian premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming indonesia
watch coppa america live streaming qatar
watch coppa america live streaming live
watch soccer live streaming xbox
watch premier league live streaming online
watch soccer live stream links
watch live soccer game today
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online
watch soccer live streaming zimbabwe
watch soccer online free streaming live south africa
watch live streaming soccer online espn3
watch soccer online free streaming live iphone
watch champions league live streaming crictime
watch coppa america live streaming putlockers
watch soccer saturday live stream
watch soccer game live now
live tv soccer live stream - live3s.com
watch the premier league live stream
watch barclays premier league online live streaming
how to watch soccer live streaming free
watch live soccer game barcelona vs real madrid
watch premier league live streaming quality
www.watch premier league live stream.com
watch premier league live streaming live
watch premier league live in stream
watch soccer online free streaming live espn
watch soccer online free streaming live without registration
watch coppa america live streaming australia
watch indian premier league live stream online
where to watch free live soccer streaming online
watch champions league draw live streaming free
watch premier league live streaming vf
how to watch premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming juventus
watch champions league live streaming ptv sports
watch coppa america live streaming pc
watch champions league live streaming putlockers
watch soccer live streaming jamaica
watch coppa america live streaming direct
watch premier league live streaming video
watch english premier league live streaming free
soccer tv live net stream
watch coppa america live streaming nz
watch sky sports premier league live stream
free watch champions league live streaming
watch champions league live streaming kenya
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming online free
watch premier league live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch premier league live streaming qatar
watch champions league live streaming cricfree
watch coppa america live streaming totalsportek
watch soccer am online live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming app
watch soccer online free streaming live
watch uefa champions league quarter final draw live streaming
watch champions league live streaming now tv
watch champions league live streaming pakistan
#Barcelona #goodday #risate #liverpool #kroenkeout #gunners #noelgallagher #lionelmessi #gym #arsenalfantv #cr7 #england #petercrouch #salah #elcasico #zidane #football #thebeatles #cristiano #linkstreaming #golf #hotcoffee #seriea #liverpoolcity #ignoranza #visubal #winner #commentimemorabili #chocolate #433skills #livesports #bundesliga #nationsleague #rugby #cristianoronaldo #lovefootball #boxing #champion #football #arsenal #copaamerica #footballschedule #jadwalbolahariini #streamingbolaid #freekick #coys #bayervshoffenheim #tokyo #kickoff #vip #4Series #conference #MSport #PartyTime #ucl #livestreams #bayernmunich #afcnews #mensnightout #Liamgallagher #henderson #Fcb #goal #thomasmeunier #MyDubai #liverpool #rockstar #BMW #Sunday #GarageCafeDxb #cappucino #coutinho #bayern #hoffenhiem #realmadrid #premierleague #messi #serieatim #meunier #championsleague #championship #roadtrip #Bar #juventus #comics #sumbertv #24x7 #oasisofficial #romania #footballfans #londoncity #chocolatecoffee #kopisusu #oudmehta #footballdubai #coyg #liverpoolfc
0 Comments