Lionel Messi headlines the Argentina squad for three South American World Cup qualifiers in October announced on Monday.
The Argentines are away to Paraguay on October 7 before hosting Uruguay three days later and wrapping up against Peru on October 14, also in Buenos Aires.
Argentina, with 18 points, are second in the standings behind Brazil, who have amassed 24 points in eight matches.
The 2022 World Cup will feature 32 teams and is to be held in Qatar between November 21 and December 18.
Three Premier League players – Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and Tottenham pair Giovani Lo Celso and Cristian Romero – are in the Argentina squad even though the country is on Britain’s coronavirus travel red list.
Travellers from red-listed countries must quarantine for 10 days after arriving in the UK.
Villa and Tottenham each have top-flight fixtures on the weekend of October 16/17.
Argentina squad
Goalkeepers: Franco Armani (River Plate), Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa/ENG), Juan Musso (Atalanta/ITA), Esteban Andrada (Monterrey/MEX)
Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel (Sevilla/ESP), Nahuel Molina Lucero (Udinese/ITA), Juan Foyth (Villarreal/ESP), Lucas Martinez Quarta (Fiorentina/ITA), German Pezzella (Real Betis/ESP), Cristian Romero (Tottenham/ENG), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica/POR), Lisandro Martinez (Ajax/NED), Marcos Acuna (Sevilla/ESP), Nicolas Tagliafico (Ajax/NED)
Midfielders: Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen/GER), Leandro Paredes (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Guido Rodriguez (Real Betis/ESP), Nicolas Dominguez (Bologna/ITA), Giovani Lo Celso (Tottenham/ENG), Alejandro Gomez (Sevilla/ESP)
Forwards: Angel Di Maria (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Lucas Alario (Bayer Leverkusen/GER), Paulo Dybala (Juventus/ITA), Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan/ITA), Angel Correa (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Joaquin Correa (Inter Milan/ITA), Nicolas Gonzalez (Fiorentina/ITA), Julian Alvarez (River Plate)
Zlatan returns to Sweden squad after knee injury
Striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been named in Sweden’s squad to face Kosovo and Greece in their October World Cup 2022 qualifiers, despite concerns over a knee injury that caused him to miss Euro 2020.
Sweden coach Janne Andersson has included Ibrahimovic, who will turn 40 on October 3, after his side slumped to a shock 2-1 defeat by Greece after beating Spain at home.
“I decided to include him because I hope and believe that he can be there and contribute. He has a period of injury behind him, but it’s improving all the time,” Andersson said in a statement.
Lionel Messi
