Lionel Messi to make Argentina return for the first time since World Cup
- Lionel Messi has been included in the Argentina's Albiceleste squad for the first time since the 2018 summer World Cup in Russia
- The 31-year-old has missed six games for Argentina after France defeat at the World Cup
- Argentina will battle Venezuela and Morocco on March 23 and March 26 respectively
Lionel Messi is staging a comeback to the Argentina squad for the first time since the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
The BBC report claims the 31-year-old Barcelona captain at the last count has missed six international games since the Albiceleste suffered a last 16 defeat by eventual winners France’s Leus Blues at the mundial in Russia.
Messi is now expected to make a return after making the 31-man Argentina squad to battle Venezuela and Morocco later in the month.
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Another top Argentina star staging a return to the squad is Paris St-Germain midfielder Angel di Maria.
A further breakdown of the list of invited players revealed that Albiceleste boss Lionel Scaloni's named four Premier League star - Manchester City centre-back Nicolas Otamendi, Tottenham defender Juan Foyth, Watford midfielder Roberto Pereyra and West Ham playmaker Manuel Lanzini in his squad.
But the pair of Tottenham winger Erik Lamela and goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga were overlooked.
Equally, no invitation was sent to Inter Milan forward Mauro Icardi, no thanks to ongoing dispute with his Italian club.
And the duo of Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain were also missing since represent Argentina at the 2018 World Cup finals.
At the last count, Messi, remains Albiceleste record scorer with 65 goals in 128 caps.
Previously, the Barcelona playmaker retired from international duty after Copa America final defeat by Chile in June 2016, but made a U-turn on his decision two months later.
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Interestingly, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi has just the Olympic gold at the 2008 Games in Beijing to boast of, having suffered defeat in three Copa America finals as well as losing to in the 2014 World Cup final.
Argentina square up against Venezuela in Madrid at 01:00 GMT on March 23 before tackling Morocco three days later in Tangier on March 26.
Argentina alongside Colombia, Paraguay and 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar are in Group B of the 2019 Copa America which holds from June 14 to July 7 in Brazil.
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Lionel Messi is ready to return to Argentina squad when they battle Venezuela in a friendly on March 22 nine months after keeping off the Albiceleste squad.
According to a Goal.com report, the 31-year-old Messi, who last played for the South American nation in their 4-3 defeat by France at 2018 Mundial is staging a comeback after excelling with Barcelona in the current camping.
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Source: Legit.ng
