Lionel Messi has been named in the Argentina squad for the first time since the 2018 World Cup.

The Barcelona forward, 31, has missed six international friendlies following defeat by eventual winners France in the last 16 in Russia in June.

He is part of a 31-man squad for friendlies against Venezuela and Morocco this month.

Paris St-Germain midfielder Angel di Maria, 31, has also been recalled for the first time since the World Cup.

There are four Premier League players in manager Lionel Scaloni's squad - Manchester City centre-back Nicolas Otamendi, Tottenham defender Juan Foyth, Watford midfielder Roberto Pereyra and West Ham playmaker Manuel Lanzini.

However, Spurs winger Erik Lamela and goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga have both been dropped.

Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi has also been left out, having not played since 9 February because of an ongoing dispute with the Serie A club.

Manchester City's Sergio Aguero and Chelsea's Gonzalo Higuain also remain absent, having last played for Argentina at the 2018 World Cup.

Argentina captain Messi, his country's record scorer with 65 goals in 128 games, initially retired from international duty after Copa America final defeat by Chile in June 2016 before reversing his decision less that two months later.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner's only major international honour is Olympic gold at the 2008 Games in Beijing, having lost three Copa America finals and been beaten by Germany in the 2014 World Cup final.

Argentina face Venezuela in Madrid at 01:00 GMT on 23 March before playing Morocco in Tangier on 26 March.

The 2019 Copa America runs from 14 June to 7 July in Brazil, with Argentina drawn in Group B alongside Colombia, Paraguay and 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/47488826

The only reason he keeps returning is to win a trophy with Argentina. After winning everything with his club, history will remember him as having never won anything major with his country and that's the blip he's trying so hard to erase, unfortunately, time is not that much on his side.

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He shouldn't have returned, honestly. He still will not be loved or respected by his countrymen. Besides, it looks like he's destined to not win any trophy with the national team.

I see him winning trophy this time..

Like for Messi, Share for Ronaldo

I don't mean to irritate barca fans, but truly "ORORO is the GOAT... I even dreamt about it today...

Offcourse Messi is a great too,but 2nd.....

oluwatosink:
I see him winning trophy this time..

In your dream

He might be 3rd time lucky who knows..

Returning to lose more matches.

Ok

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It doesn't make any sense!

I don't understand messi fans.
1.If ronaldo scores they will say is tapping
2.If he heads the ball the ball they will say is height advantage
3.If he scores through freekick they will say is lucky short
4.If he plays bicycle kick they will say is gravitational pull
5.If he scores hat trick they we say is penalty.
6.If he wins the ballon d'or they will say it was a mistake
7.If he wins the ucl they will say it is because of his club(meanwhile AJAX 4:1 REAL MADRID)
8.IF he celebrate after winning they will say he is too proud

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ogbiwa:
Lionel Messi has been named in the Argentina squad for the first time since the 2018 World Cup.

The Barcelona forward, 31, has missed six international friendlies following defeat by eventual winners France in the last 16 in Russia in June.

He is part of a 31-man squad for friendlies against Venezuela and Morocco this month.

Paris St-Germain midfielder Angel di Maria, 31, has also been recalled for the first time since the World Cup.

There are four Premier League players in manager Lionel Scaloni's squad - Manchester City centre-back Nicolas Otamendi, Tottenham defender Juan Foyth, Watford midfielder Roberto Pereyra and West Ham playmaker Manuel Lanzini.

However, Spurs winger Erik Lamela and goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga have both been dropped.

Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi has also been left out, having not played since 9 February because of an ongoing dispute with the Serie A club.

Manchester City's Sergio Aguero and Chelsea's Gonzalo Higuain also remain absent, having last played for Argentina at the 2018 World Cup.

Argentina captain Messi, his country's record scorer with 65 goals in 128 games, initially retired from international duty after Copa America final defeat by Chile in June 2016 before reversing his decision less that two months later.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner's only major international honour is Olympic gold at the 2008 Games in Beijing, having lost three Copa America finals and been beaten by Germany in the 2014 World Cup final.

Argentina face Venezuela in Madrid at 01:00 GMT on 23 March before playing Morocco in Tangier on 26 March.

The 2019 Copa America runs from 14 June to 7 July in Brazil, with Argentina drawn in Group B alongside Colombia, Paraguay and 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/47488826

ee Don old nah

i suppose to be the first to comment.... but i was busy reading nonsense........

Ronaldo na still the GOAT

braveboy64:
Ronaldo na still the GOAT

Good only at Tapin = Pelnado's G.O.A.T
Greatest of all time = Messi's G.O.A.T

Qatar for Copa America

braveboy64:
Ronaldo na still the GOAT

2nded

Welcome back Lionel Missi. Last last you no go see Copa America or world cup carry.

www.nairaland.com.

Notin 4u

How the hell is this news

collinsuchendu:
Like for Messi, Share for Ronaldo

What do u guys enjoy in this likes and shares....

Childish attitude every where

Retirement 3.0 loading..

Nice one.. can't wait for a repeat of this.. dis time he might actually balloon the ball to Africa.

oluwatosink:
I see him winning trophy this time..

some people just love dreaming sha

ᵀʰᶦˢ ᶦˢ ˢᵒ ˢᵐᵃᶫᶫ ᵗᵒ ʳᵉᵃᵈ ᵉᵛᵉᶰ ᶠᵒʳ ʸᵒᵘ ᵇʳᵒ⋅ ᴰᵒᶰᵗ ᵗʳʸ ᵗᵒ ᶜᵒᶰᵗᶦᶰᵘᵉ ʳᵉᵃᵈᶦᶰᵍ ᵗʰᶦˢ ᵇᵉᶜᵃᵘˢᵉ ʸᵒᵘʳ ᵉʸᵉˢ ʷᶦᶫᶫ ˢᵗᵃʳᵗ ᵗᵒ ʰᵘʳᵗ ˢᵒᵒᶰ ᶦᶠ ʸᵒᵘ ᵈᵒᶰᵗ ˢᵗᵒᵖ⋅ ᵂʰʸ ᵈᵒᶰᵗ ʸᵒᵘ ˢᵗᵒᵖ﹖ ⋅⋅⋅⋅ᵍᵒ ᵃʷᵃʸ ᵇʳᵒ ᵃᶰᵈ ʳᵉᵃᵈ ᵗʰᵉ ᶰᵉˣᵗ ᶜᵒᵐᵐᵉᶰᵗ⋅ ˢᵗᵒᵖ ʳᵉᵃᵈᶦᶰᵍ ᵃᶫʳᵉᵃᵈʸ﹗ ᴵ ˢᵉᵉ ᵗʰᵃᵗ ʸᵒᵘ ᵈᵒᶰᵗ ʷᵃᶰᶰᵃ ᵍᶦᵛᵉ ᵘᵖ ʳᵉᵃᵈᶦᶰᵍ﹖⋅⋅⋅ʷᵉᶫᶫ ᵒᵏ, ʸᵒᵘ ʷᵒᶰ ᵗʰᶦˢ ᵗᶦᵐᵉ, ᵇᵘᵗ ʸᵒᵘ ˢʰᵒᵘᶫᵈ ᵍᶦᵛᵉ ᵐᵉ ᵃ ᶫᶦᵏᵉ ᶠᵒʳ ʷᵃˢᵗᶦᶰᵍ ʸᵒᵘʳ ᵗᶦᵐᵉ

Who cares....

Go Lio,

Time to get that copa.