Messi nominated for World Cup qualification after injury break

After a two-month break due to injury, Argentine superstar Lionel Messi will be playing for the national soccer team for the first time in World Cup qualifying. The 37-year-old was called up for the games against Venezuela on October 10th and against Bolivia on October 15th. Messi suffered an ankle injury in the Copa América final in mid-July. After his recovery, the star striker was back in action for his club Inter Miami in mid-September.

National coach Lionel Scaloni also called up Exequiel Palacios from Bayer Leverkusen to the squad for the next two World Cup qualifiers. However, he will have to do without goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, who was banned for two games for obscene gestures.

World champion Argentina leads the South American table for qualifying for the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico with 18 points after eight games. The first six teams qualify directly for the finals, the seventh-placed team has to go into relegation.