The name of the star and captain Lionel Messi was absent from the Argentine national team’s squad for the two matches against Chile and Colombia in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers due to injury, which opened the door for the summoning of the Italian Roma striker Paulo Dybala.
The Argentine national team said on its account on the “X” website that Dybala’s name “has been added to the group” that will face Chile on the fifth of next month in Buenos Aires, then Colombia five days later in Barranquilla, in the seventh and eighth rounds of the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
Messi has been out of action since sustaining an injury in the middle of last month during the Copa America final, but that did not prevent his country from retaining the continental title after beating Colombia 1-0.
After announcing his international retirement, winger Angel Di Maria’s name was absent from coach Lionel Scaloni’s squad, who brought in young players by signing Valentin Barco (20 years old, Sevilla, Spain), Ezequiel Fernandez (22 years old, Al-Qadisiyah, Saudi Arabia), Matias Sole (21 years old, Roma, Italy), Giuliano Simeone (21 years old, Atletico Madrid, Spain), and Tati Castellanos (25 years old, Lazio, Italy).
Argentina leads the unified group with 15 points from 6 matches, two points ahead of second-placed Uruguay, while Colombia is in third place with 12 points.
Argentina Formation
Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa, England), Juan Musso (Atalanta, Italy), Jeronimo Rulli (Marseille, France), Walter Benitez (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands). Defenders: Goncalo Montiel (Sevilla, Spain), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid, Spain), Leonardo Balerdi (Marseille, France), Cristian Romero (Tottenham, England), German Pezzella (River Plate), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica, Portugal), Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United, England), Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon, France), Valentin Barco (Sevilla, Spain).
Midfielders: Guido Rodriguez (West Ham United, England), Leandro Paredes (Roma, Italy), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool, England), Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid, Spain), Ezequiel Fernandes (Al-Qadisiyah, Saudi Arabia), Enso Fernandes (Chelsea, England), Giovani Lo Celso (Tottenham, England), Nicolas Gonzalez (Juventus, Italy).
For attack: Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United, England), Lautaro Martinez (Inter, Italy), Valentin Carboni (Montza, Italy), Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid, Spain), Juliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid, Italy), Valentin Castellanos (Lazio, Italy). Matias Sole and Paulo Dybala (Roma, Italy).
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