Lionel Messi back in Argentina squad after ban

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi was called up on Thursday for Argentina’s friendlies against Brazil and Uruguay in November, after the three month suspension Conmebol gave him for criticising them during the Copa America.

Messi leads a squad of 26 including Paulo Dybala, Lautaro Martínez, Sergio Agüero, Leandro Paredes, German Pezzella and Nicolas Otamendi.

Giovani Lo Celso is back after injury too, while Atletico Madrid’s Mahuen Perez is in the squad too.

Nicolas Dominguez, Lucas Ocampos and Lucas Alario have also earned the confidence of coach Lionel Scaloni.

Argentina face Brazil on Nov 15 in Riad (Saudi Arabia) and later Uruguay on the 19th in Tel Aviv (Israel).

The squad is:

GK: Agustín Marchesín (Oporto/POR), Juan Musso (Udinese/ITA), Emiliano Martínez (Arsenal/ING) y Esteban Andrada (Boca).

DF: Juan Foyth (Tottenham/ING), Renzo Saravia (Oporto/POR), Nicolás Otamendi (Manchester City/ING), Germán Pezzella (Fiorentina/ITA), Marcos Rojo (Manchester United/ING), Walter Kannemann (Gremio/BRA), Nicolás Tagliafico (Ajax/HOL) y Nahuén Pérez (Famalicao/POR).

MF: Guido Rodríguez (América/MEX), Giovani Lo Celso (Tottenham/ING), Leandro Paredes (PSG/FRA), Nicolás Domínguez (Vélez), Rodrigo de Paul (Udinese/ITA), Marcos Acuña (Sporting/POR), Roberto Pereyra (Watford/ING) y Lucas Ocampos (Sevilla/ESP).

ST: Lionel Messi (Barcelona/ESP), Sergio Agüero (Manchester City/ING), Nicolás González (Stuttgart/GER), Lucas Alario (Bayer Leverkusen/GER), Lautaro Martínez (Inter/ITA) y Paulo Dybala (Juventus/ITA).