Messi returns to Argentina fold after muscle injury layoff
Argentina manager Edgardo Bauza announced Friday his 26-man squad for a pair of World Cup qualifiers against Brazil and Colombia, with Lionel Messi returning to the team after missing the last pair of matches with injury.
Messi has dealt with a series of muscular injuries in the last two months, missing about 20 days of action through the end of September into mid-October before returning to action for Barcelona. He was not a part of the squad that took on Peru and Paraguay on Oct. 6 and Oct. 11.
Messi was widely expected to receive a call-up to the Albiceleste upon his return, and is now set to take on club teammate Neymar on Nov. 10 in Belo Horizonte before facing Colombia five days later.
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There's plenty of star power on offer for Bauza as Messi's club teammate Javier Mascherano is joined by Juventus duo Gonzalo Higuain and Paulo Dybala, Manchester City ace Sergio Aguero, and PSG winger Angel Di Maria.
Mauro Icardi and Javier Pastore remain out of the squad while Nicolas Otamendi, Ramiro Funes Mori, and Lucas Biglia highlight the other players returning to the Argentina fold for this latest round of action.
The full squad:
Goalkeepers: Nahuel Guzman (Tigres), Sergio Romero (Manchester United), Geronimo Rulli (Real Sociedad)
Defenders: Martin Demichelis (Espanyol), Matthew Musacchio (Villarreal), Nicolas Otamendi (Manchester City), Ramiro Funes Mori (Everton), Gabriel Mercado (Sevilla), Facundo Roncaglia (Celta Vigo), Emmanuel Mas (San Lorenzo), Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City)
Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Barcelona), Guido Pizarro (Tigres), Lucas Biglia (Lazio), Ever Banega (Internazionale), Enzo Perez (Valencia), Nicolas Gaitan (Atletico Madrid), Angel Di Maria (PSG), Julio Buffarini (Sao Paulo), Marcos Acuna (Racing Club)
Forwards: Angel Correa (Atletico Madrid), Paulo Dybala (Juventus), Gonzalo Higuain (Juventus), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City), Lucas Pratto (Atletico Mineiro), Lionel Messi (Barcelona)