Argentina name 28-player squad for November friendlies after Messi retirement
Argentina named a 28-member squad on November 3, 2026, for friendlies against Uruguay and Costa Rica, the first selection since Lionel Messi’s international retirement; the matches in Buenos Aires and Córdoba are billed as warm-ups before Argentina begin their campaign to qualify for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
Messi, Argentina’s all-time leading goalscorer, played his final international match in a friendly against Benin on October 6, and La Albiceleste recorded victories over Bolivia and Burkina Faso without him; head coach Lionel Scaloni has now announced a Messi-less roster to begin the next phase for the national team.
Scaloni has called up 28 players for the two friendlies, with several newcomers included; among them is Chelsea defender Aaron Anselmino, who is 21 years old, has not featured for the Premier League club this season, and is set to make his international debut.
Parma defender Mariano Troilo and River Plate full-back Gonzalo Montiel return to the squad after missing previous rosters, while other fringe players called up include Roma attackers Santiago Castro and Matias Soule and Zenit St Petersburg full-back Roman Vega.
Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has been included despite his current broken jaw, and the squad’s medical staff will assess his availability in the coming days; the goalkeepers named are Emiliano Martinez (Chelsea), Geronimo Rulli (Manchester City), Juan Musso (Atletico Madrid) and Santiago Beltran (River Plate).
The squad lists for outfield players are: Defenders — Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate), Agustin Giay (Palmeiras), Aaron Anselmino (Chelsea), Mariano Troilo (Parma), Leonardo Balerdi (Roma), Lisandro Martínez (Manchester United), Facundo Medina (Bayer Leverkusen), Nicolás Tagliafico (Lyon), Roman Vega (Zenit). Midfielders — Ezequiel Fernandez (Bayer Leverkusen), Maximo Perrone (Como), Exequiel Palacios (Ipswich Town), Valentín Barco (Chelsea), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Enzo Fernandez (Manchester City), Nicolas Paz (Como), Matias Soule (Roma). Forwards — Franco Mastantuono (Fiorentina), Giuliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid), Gianluca Prestianni (Benfica), Thiago Almada (River Plate), Jose Manuel Lopez (Palmeiras), Santiago Castro (Roma), Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid).
Argentina will meet Uruguay on November 13, 2026, at Estadio Alberto J. Armando (La Bombonera) in Buenos Aires and will play Costa Rica on November 17, 2026, at the Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium in Córdoba.