Argentina have confirmed their final squad for the Copa America.
Valentin Barco of Brighton & Hove Albion, Atletico Madrid’s Angel Correa and Marseille defender Leonardo Balerdi are the three to miss out from Lionel Scaloni’s initial selection.
Argentina kick off the tournament against Canada in Atlanta on Thursday.
Lionel Messi once again captains the side as he did in Qatar two years ago as they went on to win the World Cup. He also led his country to the last Copa America title, in 2021.
Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister, Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez and Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez are all also headline inclusions.
Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez underwent hernia surgery that ended his domestic season early to ensure he would be available for his national team this summer.
🏆 #SelecciónMayor ¡Aquí están, estos son los 26!
A continuación, los futbolistas convocados por Lionel Scaloni para disputar la @CopaAmerica en Estados Unidos.
¡Vamos @Argentina! 🩵🤍🩵#OtraVezJuntos pic.twitter.com/5eqyql6W0g
— 🇦🇷 Selección Argentina ⭐⭐⭐ (@Argentina) June 15, 2024
Alejandro Garnacho has also been rewarded with a place after a breakout season for Manchester United, despite not featuring in either of the final two tune-up matches ahead of the tournament.
United team-mate Lisandro Martinez, who missed much of the season with injury, is also included.
Scaloni’s side defeated Ecuador 1-0 on June 9 before completing their preparations against Guatemala on Friday night in a game where Messi scored twice to move second on the all-time men’s international goalscorers list.
Following the tournament opener against Canada, Argentina face Chile on June 26 and then Peru on June 30.
Argentina squad in full
Goalkeepers: Franco Armani (River Plate), Geronimo Rulli (Ajax), Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel (Nottingham Forest), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid), Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur), German Pezzella (Real Betis), Lucas Martinez Quarta (Fiorentina), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United), Marcos Acuna (Sevilla), Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon),
Midfielders: Guido Rodriguez (Real Betis), Leandro Paredes (Roma), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea), Giovani Lo Celso (Tottenham Hotspur)
Forwards: Angel Di Maria (Benfica), Valentin Carboni (A.C. Monza), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), , Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United), Nicolas Gonzalez (Fiorentina), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan), Julian Alvarez (Manchester City)
GO DEEPER
Argentina Copa America 2024 squad guide: World champions have Messi, but also flaws
(Omar Vega/Getty Images)
