Lionel Messi has been named captain of the Argentina national team for the upcoming World Cup, as announced by head coach Lionel Scaloni on Thursday. This tournament will mark Messi's sixth appearance in the World Cup, a record for the Argentine superstar, who had not previously confirmed his participation.

Squad Announcement Highlights

In addition to Messi's confirmation, Scaloni's announcement revealed that Real Madrid's Franco Mastantuono, an 18-year-old regarded as one of Argentina's brightest talents, will not be part of the squad. The World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is set to begin on June 11, with Argentina's first match against Algeria scheduled for June 16 in Kansas City.

Messi recently faced an injury scare, as Inter Miami reported that he was diagnosed with muscle fatigue in his left hamstring following an early exit during a match against Philadelphia. However, Scaloni has downplayed the severity of the injury.

Key Players and Notable Absences

Center-back Cristian Romero has also been included in the squad despite suffering a knee injury last month. Romero, who plays for Tottenham Hotspur, was sidelined after a collision with a teammate. Argentina's squad retains 17 players from the team that won the World Cup in Qatar four years ago. Young talents Nicolas Paz and Valentin Barco, both 21, have received call-ups, along with Palmeiras forward Jose Manuel Lopez, who made his international debut last year.

Notable absentees from the squad include Emiliano Buendia, who has been in excellent form with Aston Villa, and Roma's Paulo Dybala. Argentina will prepare for the World Cup with friendly matches against Honduras on June 6 and Iceland on June 9.

Alongside Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Guillermo Ochoa are also anticipated to participate in their sixth World Cups this summer, highlighting the experience present in the tournament.

Argentina's World Cup Group

Argentina will compete in a group that includes Austria and Jordan, aiming to make a strong impact as they pursue another World Cup title.