Argentina rest Lionel Messi for 2022 World Cup qualifiers

2022 FIFA World Cup Conmebol qualifiers: Argentina rest Lionel Messi for January Squad.

Paris Saint-Germain star Lionel Messi, who recently recovered from a Covid-19 infection, was on Wednesday left out of Argentina's squad for World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Colombia, with the twice former winners already qualified for Qatar 2022.



Argentina will play Chile in Santiago on January 27 and Colombia at home on February 1 with both opponents still in contention to qualify for the tournament.

There were few changes to the 27-strong squad, with Christian Romero of Tottenham out injured, and only two Argentine club players, both from River Plate: veteran goalkeeper Franco Armani and forward Julian Alvarez, who was voted the South American Footballer of the year in 2021.


PSG face Real Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League with the first leg on Feb. 15. 

Argentina are away to Chile on Jan. 27 and host Colombia on Feb. 1.

Argentina National Team Squad, Players List for January World Cup Qualifiers.

Goalkeepers: Franco Armani (River Plate), Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa/ENG), Juan Musso (Atalanta/ITA), Esteban Andrada (Monterrey/MEX)


Defenders: Nahuel Molina (Udinese/ITA), Gonzalo Montiel (Sevilla/ESP), German Pezzella (Real Betis/ESP), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica/POR), Lisandro Martinez (Ajax/NED), Lucas Martinez Quarta (Fiorentina/ITA), Nicolas Tagliafico (Ajax/NED), Marcos Acuna (Sevilla/ESP)


Midfielders: Lucas Ocampo (Sevilla/ESP), Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Leandro Paredes (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Guido Rodriguez (Real Betis/SPA), Giovanni Lo Celso (Tottenham/ENG), Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton/ENG), Emiliano Buendia (Aston Villa/ENG), Alejandro Gomez (Sevilla/ESP)


Forwards:

Nicolas Gonzalez (Fiorentina/ITA), 

Angel Di Maria (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), 

Angel Correa (Atletico Madrid/ESP), 

Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan/ITA), 

Julian Alvarez (River Plate), 

Joaquin Correa (Inter Milan/ITA)

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AFP:  edm/nn/ol/mlr/bc/bsp