Soccer-Argentina name first squad of post-Messi era for November friendlies


Soccer - Argentina - Argentine Primera Division - Torneo Clausura - Boca Juniors v River Plate - Estadio La Bombonera, Buenos Aires, Argentina - November 1, 2026 Boca Juniors' Miguel Merentiel in action with River Plate's Gonzalo Montiel REUTERS/Rodrigo Valle

Nov 3 (Reuters) - Argentina ⁠coach Lionel Scaloni named on Tuesday ⁠his first squad since Lionel Messi's ‌international retirement, calling up 28 players for November friendlies against Uruguay and Costa Rica.

Chelsea defender Aaron Anselmino, ​21, earned his first ⁠senior call-up, while River ⁠Plate's Gonzalo Montiel and Parma defender Mariano ⁠Troilo ‌return to the squad as Scaloni begins shaping the team without ⁠its long-time captain.

The squad also includes ​several key ‌players, including Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez ⁠and ​Julian Alvarez.

Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was included despite suffering a fractured jaw while playing for ⁠Chelsea, although his fitness will ​need to be assessed before the matches.

There was no place for Rodrigo De Paul or ⁠Giovani Lo Celso, while striker Lautaro Martinez and defender Cristian Romero are among the notable absentees through injury.

Argentina will host ​Uruguay on November 13 ⁠at La Bombonera before facing Costa Rica on ​November 17 at the ‌Mario Alberto Kempes stadium ​in Cordoba.

(Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico CityEditing by Toby Davis)

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