The Argentine Football Association (AFA) said on Wednesday, Paris Saint-Germain star Lionel Messi has been included in Argentina’s squad for 2022 World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil despite injury concerns.
Messi missed PSG’s 2-2 draw at Leipzig in the Champions League group stage on Wednesday because of hamstring and knee problems, though they are understood not to be serious. Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni also included Juventus forward Paulo Dybala, who has recovered a thigh injury that left him out of the Albiceleste’s October qualifiers.
The 34-man squad also includes newcomers Enzo Fernandez, Santiago Simon, Exequiel Zeballos, Cristian Medina, Gaston Avila, Federico Gomes and Matias Soule.
Argentina will meet Uruguay in Montevideo on November 12 and Brazil in Buenos Aires four days later. The two-time World Cup winners are currently second in the South American qualifying group with seven wins and four draws from 11 matches, six points behind Brazil.