Argentina coach Scaloni says Messi will captain defending champions at World Cup

Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring his second goal during Argentina's World Cup qualifier against Venezuela last year
Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring his second goal during Argentina's World Cup qualifier against Venezuela last yearLuis ROBAYO / AFP

Lionel Messi will captain Argentina at the World Cup, national coach Lionel Scaloni announced Thursday as he unveiled his 26-man squad.

Messi, 38, heads the list, which notably omits Real Madrid's Franco Mastantuono.

This will be Messi's sixth World Cup appearance and will see him lead Argentina's defence of the title they won in Qatar four years ago.

Argentina

Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Geronimo Rulli (Marseille), Juan Musso (Atletico de Madrid)

Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate), Nahuel Molina (Atletico de Madrid), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), Leonardo Balerdi (Marseille), Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United), Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon), Facundo Medina (Marseille)

Midfielders: Valentin Barco (Strasbourg), Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis), Nico Paz (Como), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea), Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Nicolas Gonzalez (Atletico de Madrid), Giuliano Simeone (Atletico de Madrid), Thiago Almada (Atletico de Madrid)

Forwards: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Julian Alvarez (Atletico de Madrid), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan), and Flaco Lopez (Palmeiras)