Lionel Messi returns with Argentina for World Cup qualifiers

Argentina national team head coach Lionel Scaloni has announced the 27-player squad for October's World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Bolivia, with the return of Lionel Messi the headline squad news.

Argentina currently leads CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying with 18 points in eight games, winning 3-0 against Chile and losing 2-1 to Colombia in the last window.

Now, La Albiceleste will visit sixth-place Venezuela on October 10 and host eighth-place Bolivia on October 15.

The top six teams in CONMEBOL will qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup. The seventh place will take part in an inter-confederation playoff game and have the chance to secure a ticket to the competition.

The Inter Miami captain returns to international action for the first time since injuring his right ankle in the 2024 Copa América final against Colombia on July 14.

Messi then had to take a two-month break and missed the September international window.

He returned to action for Inter Miami on September 14th and has featured in every game since, slowly gaining rhythm in time for the October window.

Argentina will be without Ángel Di María for the first time since the Copa América after the player announced his official retirement from the national team after the tournament, and goalkeeper Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez.

The Aston Villa goalkeeper was banned for two matches by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee for engaging in offensive behavior and “violating fair play principles”.

FIFA found that Martínez violated the code of conduct when he held the replica Copa America trophy to his groin, citing celebrations he made at the 2022 FIFA World Cup after the win against Chile on September 5th.

The goalkeeper was then penalized for pushing a cameraman's equipment after Argentina's 2-1 loss to Colombia on September 10.

“I accept the sanction of @FIFAcom and apologize if I have offended anyone. The moment of celebration is to make many children smile and not to disrespect anyone,” Martinez said in a statement on X.

“I will support my friends at this FIFA event, despite the pain of not being able to be there.”

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) said the player and the association presented a defense before FIFA confirmed the sanctions.

“It should be noted that the Argentine Football Association expresses its absolute disagreement with the decision of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee,” the AFA said in a statement.

ARGENTINA TEAM

GOALKEEPER: Gerónimo Rulli, Walter Benítez, Juan Musso.

DEFENDER: Gonzalo Montiel, Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Nicolás Otamendi, Germán Pezzella, Leonardo Balerdi, Marcos Acuña, Nicolás Tagliafico.

MIDFIELDER: Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Leandro Paredes, Enzo Fernández, Giovani Lo Celso, Thiago Almada, Guido Rodríguez, Nico Paz.

FORWARD: Nicolas Gonzalez, Lautaro Martínez, Alejandro Garnacho, Julián Álvarez, Valentin Carboni, Valentin Carboni, Paulo Dybala, Lionel Messi.