Argentina announce new squad for friendly matches, with Messi returning for farewell game; Lautaro and Alvarez included

Lionel Messi announced on August 31 that he would retire from international football with Argentina. He will return to the national team for his farewell match.

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) confirmed that Messi, Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso will travel to take part in the final friendly match on October 6. Meanwhile, the list of players selected from the domestic league will be announced on Friday.

Argentina overseas players squad for the friendlies:

Goalkeepers:
Emiliano Martínez (Chelsea)
Juan Musso (Atlético Madrid)
Gerónimo Rulli (Manchester City)

Defenders:
Leonardo Balerdi (Roma)
Cristian Romero (Atlético Madrid)
Lisandro Martínez (Manchester United)
Juan Foyth (Villarreal)
Facundo Medina (Bayer Leverkusen)
Nicolás Tagliafico (Lyon)
Román Vega (Zenit)
Agustín Giay (Palmeiras)

Midfielders:
Enzo Fernández (Manchester City)
Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool)
Valentín Barco (Chelsea)
Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis)
Matías Palacios (Ipswich Town)
Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami)
Nico Paz (Como)
Franco Mastantuono (Fiorentina)
Matías Soulé (Roma)

Forwards:
Giuliano Simeone (Atlético Madrid)
Nicolás González (Juventus)
Gianluca Prestianni (Benfica)
José Manuel López (Palmeiras)
Tomás Castro (Roma)
Julián Álvarez (Atlético Madrid)
Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan)
Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)

Argentina will play three international friendly matches during the upcoming international break.

The first match will take place on September 30 (Wednesday) at the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes in Córdoba Province, where Argentina will face Bolivia.

The remaining two matches will be held at the Monumental Stadium:
October 3 (Saturday): Argentina vs Burkina Faso
October 6 (Tuesday): Argentina vs Benin

The October 6 match is expected to be a special occasion as Messi makes his return to the national team for his farewell appearance.