Lionel Messi Named in Argentina Squad for Friendly Against Angola
Argentina’s national team coach, Lionel Scaloni, has announced a 24-player roster for an upcoming friendly match against Angola on November 14. Among the notable selections are Inter Miami stars Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul.
Scaloni opted not to include players from Argentina’s Primera Division, as the league will continue games during the November international window. Argentine soccer federation president Claudio Tapia commented on the decision, stating, “We spoke with Scaloni to ensure that players from Argentine football teams that are playing decisive matches in the Clausura Tournament are not called up.”
Another high-profile exclusion is Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez, who will not join the squad for this fixture. Despite their eligibility, Scaloni has called up Messi and De Paul, even though they may be busy with playoff commitments in Major League Soccer. If Inter Miami secures a win against Nashville SC this Saturday, they will advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals scheduled for November 22 or 23.
Both Messi and De Paul were part of the squad in October, where they took part in friendlies against Venezuela and Puerto Rico. While Messi played in one of those matches, De Paul featured prominently in both games.
This squad will also see two first-time call-ups: Joaquín Panichelli, the Ligue 1 scoring leader from Strasbourg, and Gianluca Prestianni, a Benfica winger who impressed during the recent FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile.
Argentina is set to travel to Luanda, Angola, for this friendly match, marking their only game in the November international window.
n
