Lionel Messi has made his return to the Argentine national team as they prepare for the World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Bolivia this October.
Head coach Lionel Scaloni announced a 27-player roster on Thursday, highlighting Messi’s inclusion.
Argentina currently leads the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying standings, having earned 18 points from eight matches. The team recently achieved a 3-0 victory over Chile but suffered a 2-1 loss to Colombia in their last game.
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The upcoming matches will see Argentina compete against sixth-ranked Venezuela on October 10 and host eighth-ranked Bolivia on October 15.
In the CONMEBOL region, the top six teams automatically qualify for the 2026 World Cup, while the seventh-placed team enters an inter-confederation playoff for a chance to secure a spot in the tournament.
Messi has been absent from international play since suffering a right ankle injury during the final of the 2024 Copa América against Colombia on July 14, which kept him sidelined for two months. He returned to action with Inter Miami on September 14 and has consistently played since then, preparing for the important October qualifiers. Fans are hopeful that his experience and skill will help propel Argentina toward World Cup qualification.
