Argentina announces final squad for Copa America 2024; Messi named captain, Correa out

Lionel Messi was named captain as Argentina announced its final squad for Copa America 2024, under head coach Lionel Scaloni, on Saturday.

Published : Jun 15, 2024 18:47 IST , Chennai - 2 MINS READ

Messi, in Argentina’s last warm-up match before Copa America, got level with Ali Daei as the joint-second-highest goalscorer in international football, below Cristiano Ronaldo.
Messi, in Argentina’s last warm-up match before Copa America, got level with Ali Daei as the joint-second-highest goalscorer in international football, below Cristiano Ronaldo. | Photo Credit: Getty Images via AFP
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Messi, in Argentina’s last warm-up match before Copa America, got level with Ali Daei as the joint-second-highest goalscorer in international football, below Cristiano Ronaldo. | Photo Credit: Getty Images via AFP

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni named his final 26-man squad for the Copa America on Saturday, with Angel Correa, Valentin Barco and Leonardo Balerdi failing to make the cut for the defending champion after it was named in the provisional team.

The deadline to submit the final squad to CONMEBOL was Saturday and Argentina announced the list a day after they beat Guatemala 4-1 in a friendly.

Lionel Messi continues to lead the charge for the world champion and will be joined by veteran winger Angel Di Maria, who is retiring from international duty after the tournament which kicks off on June 20 in the United States.

World Cup Golden Glove winner Emi Martinez will stay in goal while Scaloni is spoilt for choice in central defence after naming Cristian Romero, Nicolas Otamendi and Lisandro Martinez -- who has had an injury-ridden campaign.

RELATED: Lionel Messi scores brace against Guatemala to narrow lead against Cristiano Ronaldo before Copa America 2024

Scaloni is not short of forward options either with Serie A top scorer Lautaro Martinez and Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez called up.

Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho, who made his debut last year and has five caps, has also been rewarded with a spot in the team after the 19-year-old scored 10 times for the English side in all competitions this season.

Paulo Dybala did not even make the provisional squad despite scoring 16 goals and providing 10 assists for AS Roma. Argentina is in Group A and play Canada in the tournament opener in Atlanta before facing Chile in New Jersey and Peru in Miami.

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