Argentina's near-complete world champion team in Qatar, under captain Lionel Messi, has been called up to play two friendlies in Asia in mid-June.
Only a few marginal changes have been made by coach Lionel Scaloni for this international window before the start of South America's qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. Argentina will meet Australia on June 15 in Beijing and Indonesia four days later in Jakarta.
In attack, Giovanni Simeone (Napoli) should make up for the absence of Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan), who has scheduled treatment on a sore ankle after the Champions League final scheduled for June 10 against Manchester City.
There will also be new blood in attack alongside the trio Angel Di Maria (Juventus Turin), Lionel Messi (PSG) and Julian Alvarez (Manchester City), with Nicolas Gonzalez (25, Fiorentina) who was left out of the World Cup at the last minute due to injury, and the young Alejandro Garnacho (18, Manchester United).
In defense, Leonardo Balerdi (Marseille), disappeared from the selection for a few minutes played in 2019, could adorn himself a third time with the Albiceleste jersey, like Facundo Medina (Lens, 2 caps). They will meet the world champion left-back Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon).
This match in Beijing against the Socceroos (whom Argentina had beaten 2-1 in the knockout stages in Qatar) will mark the return of international football in China after three years of strict health restrictions that have emptied stadiums and led to a cascade of cancellations of sports competitions.
Here is the list of Argentine players summoned:
Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa, ENG), Gerónimo Rulli (Ajax, PBS), Walter Benítez (PSV Eindhoven, PBS)
Defenders: Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid, ESP), Gonzalo Montiel (Sevilla, ESP), Marcos Acuna (Sevilla, ESP), German Pezzella (Betis, ESP), Cristian Romero (Tottenham, ENG), Leonardo Balerdi (Marseille, FRA), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica, POR), Facundo Medina (Lens, FRA), Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon, FRA)
Midfielders: Leandro Paredes (Juventus, ITA), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea, ENG), Guido Rodriguez (Betis, ESP), Rodrigo de Paul (Atletico Madrid, ESP), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen, GER), Alexis MacAllister (Brighton, ENG), Thiago Almada (Atlanta United, USA), Giovani Lo Celso (Villarreal, ESP), Lucas Ocampos (Sevilla, ESP)
Forwards: Angel Di Maria (Juventus, ITA), Lionel Messi (PSG, FRA), Julian Alvarez (Manchester City, ENG), Giovanni Simeone (Napoli, ITA), Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United, ENG), Nicolas Gonzalez (Fiorentina, ITA)