Argentina's first squad since Messi: De Paul and Lo Celso out, the No 10 still unclaimed
Argentina's first squad since Lionel Messi retired: the core that stayed, the seven names missing and why, and the No 10 shirt still waiting for an owner.
Argentina named 28 players on Tuesday 3 November, its first squad since Lionel Messi retired, and Lionel Scaloni has left the No 10 shirt unassigned. 1
Two friendlies follow. Argentina host Uruguay at La Bombonera on 13 November, then Costa Rica at the Mario Alberto Kempes stadium in Córdoba on 17 November. 1 Kick-off times for both are still to be confirmed. 2
The spine stayed
Messi played his last Argentina match on 6 October, a 3-0 win over Benin, and finished on 208 caps and 126 goals. 3
The midfield and forward line that carried Argentina through the World Cup mostly stayed. Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernández and Julián Álvarez are all in the list. 4
Emiliano Martínez is included while he recovers from a fractured jaw, and his fitness will be assessed before the matches. 4 The list holds four goalkeepers, nine defenders, seven midfielders and eight forwards. 1
Missing: three injured, two dropped, two banned
Cristian Romero, the captain, is out injured, and so are striker Lautaro Martínez and winger Nicolás González. 1
Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso were left out for footballing reasons, AP reported. 1
Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina are serving bans from the brawl after the World Cup final. Paredes still owes seven matches of a 10-match suspension and Molina four of seven. 1 Fifa imposed those bans in August for the scenes that followed Spain's 1-0 win. 56
The new names
Aaron Anselmino, a 21-year-old Chelsea defender, has his first senior call-up. 4 Mariano Troilo of Parma also comes in to cover the missing defenders. 1
Gonzalo Montiel returns after missing the October friendlies, and Thiago Almada is back after serving a one-match ban from the final. 1
Further forward the group already leans young: Nicolás Paz at Como, Franco Mastantuono at Fiorentina, Gianluca Prestianni at Benfica, and Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro at Roma. 1
The empty No 10
In October Scaloni left the shirt unused against Bolivia and Burkina Faso and said he would not name a successor while Messi was still playing. 1
Paz, in form in Italy, is one of the favourites. Romero, the captain, has a different pick. 1
A new address, and a contract
Argentina normally play at River Plate's Monumental, which holds twice as many people as La Bombonera. The switch came a day after River's board attacked the Argentine Football Association over the new 2027 league format and over refereeing. 7
Scaloni's contract expires in December. The AFA wants him through the 2030 World Cup and is expected to confirm a renewal during this window. 7
Uruguay, coached by Diego Forlán, are the first opponents. 7
Quote of the Day
"I see him with that profile of humility, a family man, a good kid, and he has the qualities. I think it's him."
Cristian Romero, Argentina's captain, choosing Julián Álvarez for the No 10 shirt, to AP on 3 November 2026. 1
References
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