Lionel Messi picked for Argentina squad for upcoming World Cup qualifying matches

By: The Associated Press Posted: 10:50 AM CDT Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023

BUENOS AIRES (AP) — Lionel Messi was picked Thursday for Argentina's next two World Cup qualifying matches despite muscular pains that have kept him off the field for two weeks.

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BUENOS AIRES (AP) — Lionel Messi was picked Thursday for Argentina's next two World Cup qualifying matches despite muscular pains that have kept him off the field for two weeks.

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This article was published 05/10/2023 (1087 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BUENOS AIRES (AP) — Lionel Messi was picked Thursday for Argentina’s next two World Cup qualifying matches despite muscular pains that have kept him off the field for two weeks.

The 36-year-old Messi has missed five of Inter Miami’s last six matches. The Argentina captain also missed his national team’s 3-0 win at Bolivia on Sept. 12.

Messi’s most recent appearance was at his team’s match against Toronto on Sept. 20, during which he was substituted at halftime because of muscular pains.

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi looks through the glass wall of a private box at the start of the team's U.S. Open Cup final soccer match against the Houston Dynamo, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Houston won 2-1. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Argentina will face Paraguay in Buenos Aires on Oct. 12 and then visit Peru five days later.

Argentina and Brazil lead the South American World Cup qualifying standings with two wins from two matches.

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Argentina:

Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa), Franco Armani (River Plate), Juan Musso (Atalanta)

Defenders: Walter Benítez (PSV Eindhoven), Juan Foyth (Villarreal), Gonzalo Montiel (Nottingham Forest), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid), Germán Pezzella (Real Betis), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), Lucas Martínez Quarta (Fiorentina), Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica), Marco Pellegrino (AC Milan), Marcos Acuña (Sporting Lisbon), Nicolás Tagliafico (Lyon), Lucas Esquivel (Athletico Paranaense)

Midfielders: Leandro Paredes (Roma), Guido Rodriguez (Real Betis), Enzo Fernández (Chelsea), Rodrigo de Paul (Atletico Madrid), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Carlos Alcaraz (Southampton), Giovani Lo Celso (Tottenham), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Thiago Almada (Atlanta United), Bruno Zapelli (Athletico Paranaense)

Forwards: Paulo Dybala (Roma), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Julián Alvarez (Manchester City), Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan), Facundo Farias (Inter Miami), Lucas Beltrán (Fiorentina), Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United), Nico González (Fiorentina), Lucas Ocampos (Sevilla)

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer