23-Man Argentina List: Messi, Aguero, Dybala named
Forwards Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Paulo Dybala and Gonzalo Higuain have all been included in Argentina’s 23-man squad for the FIFA 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Sportinglife.ng reports that Serie A’s joint top scorer, Inter Milan’s Mauro Icardi, is left out. He has been left out despite scoring 29 goals in 34 games in Italy’s top flight this season.
Aguero is joined by five other Premier League players including Manchester City team-mate Nicolas Otamendi. Others England-based players are West Ham’s Manuel Lanzini, Manchester United pair Sergio Romero and Marcos Rojo, and Chelsea’s Willy Caballero.
Everton defender Ramiro Funes Mori, who made only four first-team appearances last season because of injury, has been left out, having been named in manager Jorge Sampaoli’s provisional squad
Argentina begin their World Cup campaign against Iceland on 16 June before games against Croatia and Nigeria in Group D.
Argentina squad:
Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (Manchester United), Willy Caballero (Chelsea), Franco Armani (River Plate).
Defenders: Gabriel Mercado (Sevilla), Federico Fazio (Roma), Nicolas Otamendi (Manchester City), Marcos Rojo (Manchester United), Nicolas Taglafico (Ajax), Javier Mascherano (Hebei Fortune), Marcos Acuna (Sporting Lisbon), Cristian Ansaldi (Torino).
Midfielders: Ever Banega (Sevilla), Lucas Biglia (AC Milan), Angel Di Maria, Giovani Lo Celso (both Paris St-Germain), Manuel Lanzini (West Ham), Cristian Pavon (Boca Juniors), Maximiliano Meza (Independiente), Eduardo Salvio (Benfica).
Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Gonzalo Higuain, Paulo Dybala (both Juventus), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City).