Lionel Messi will lead Argentina for their initial matches in the World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Bolivia. This comes as Messi’s first international match after moving to Inter Miami.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has built a 32-man team that includes not just the stalwarts but also some promising fresh talents. Among the veteran players chosen to participate are Angel Di Maria, who made his comeback with Benfica earlier this year, and dependable defender Nicolas Otamendi.

The squad also sees a slew of fresh faces in Alan Velasco from FC Dallas, Bruno Zapelli, and Lucas Esquivel both playing for Athletico Paranaense in Brazil, and Lucas Beltran, who recently made his move to Italy’s Fiorentina.

AS Roma striker Paulo Dybala and the goalkeeper for Ajax Amsterdam, Geronimo Rulli, will be missed in the line-up as they have been ruled out due to injuries.

Argentina are scheduled to play against Ecuador in Buenos Aires on September 7. They will then travel to play against Bolivia five days later.

Goalkeepers: Juan Musso (Atalanta), Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Walter Benitez (PSV Eindhoven), Franco Armani (River Plate).

Defenders: Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid), German Pezzella (Real Betis), Gonzalo Montiel (Nottingham Forest), Juan Foyth (Villarreal), Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth), Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United), Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur), Nicolas Tagliafico (Olympique Lyonnais), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Lucas Esquivel (Athletico Paranaense).

Midfielders: Leandro Paredes (AS Roma), Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid), Guido Rodriguez (Real Betis), Facundo Buonanotte (Brighton & Hove Albion), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Exequiel Palacios (Bayern Leverkusen) and Bruno Zapelli (Athletico Paranaense).

Forwards: Lucas Beltran (Fiorentina), Nicolas Gonzalez (Fiorentina), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan), Angel Correa (Atletico Madrid), Julian Alvarez (Manchester City), Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United), Angel Di Maria (Benfica), Lionel Messi