Messi Confirmed for Argentina’s Friendly Against Morocco, Ending Speculation

Yesterday, Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni announced the list of players who are to participate in the next two national team matches and Messi is part of it. "For everyone, the World Cup was a great disappointment, for him even more so. The decision was that he would not come. And then, from the friendly matches that he saw us play, he liked it, and he wants to try again, and for us he is welcome," the coach explained.

Despite this call-up for the two matches, the decision to meet Morocco is not yet final as it depends on the coach, he nevertheless specified. "Messi prefers to come than to rest. Leo is called up, and then we’ll see if he plays one match or two, or none. I don’t know. This decision, I will make it myself," thus maintaining the suspense until the end.

Here is the list of called-up players:

Goalkeepers: Agustín Marchesín (America Mexico, MEX), Juan Musso (Udinense, ITA), Franco Armani (River Plate), Esteban Andrada (Boca Juniors).

Defenders: German Pezzela (Fiorentina, ITA), Gabriel Mercado (FC Seville, ESP), Juan Foyth (Tottemham, ENG), Nicolás Otamendi (Manchester City, ENG), Walter Kannemann (Gremio Porto Alegre, BRA), Nicolás Tagliafico (Ajax Amsterdam, NED), Marcos Acuña (Sporting Lisbon, POR), Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate), Renzo Saravia (Racing Club), Lisandro Martínez (Defensa y Justicia).

Midfielders: Leandro Paredes, Angel Di Maria (PSG, FRA), Guido Rodríguez (America Mexico, MEX), Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis, ESP), Manuel Lanzini (West Ham, ENG), Roberto Pereyra (Wattford, ENG), Matías Zaracho (Racing Club), Iván Marcone (Boca Juniors), Domingo Blanco (Defensa y Justicia), Rodrigo De Paul (Udinese, ITA).

Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona, ESP), Gonzalo Martínez (Atlanta United, USA), Paulo Dybala (Juventus, ITA), Angel Correa (Atletico de Madrid, ESP), Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan, ITA), Darío Benedetto (Boca Juniors) and Matias Suarez (River Plate).