May 14, 2026

Lionel Messi to Lead Argentina’s Copa America Defense

By Adamu Abubakar Isa

Lionel Messi will lead Argentina’s defense of their Copa America title in the United States later this month. Manager Lionel Scaloni has selected a squad that balances experience with youth, including Miami-based Messi and Benfica’s Angel Di Maria, as well as Manchester United teenager Alejandro Garnacho and Valentin Carboni of Italian side Monza.

Argentina begins their Copa defense against Canada on June 20 in Atlanta, followed by matches against Chile and Peru. Scaloni has opted not to include Paulo Dybala, Angel Correa, and Lucas Balerdi in the squad.

The selected squad includes:

Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez, Franco Armani, Geronimo Rulli

Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel, Nahuel Molina, Nicolas Tagliafico, Marcos Acuna, Cristian Romero, German Pezzella, Nicolas Otamendi, Lucas Martinez Quarta, Lisandro Martinez

Midfielders: Guido Rodriguez, Leandro Paredes, Alexis Mac Allister, Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernandez, Exequiel Palacios, Giovani Lo Celso

Forwards: Angel Di Maria, Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez, Julian Alvarez, Valentin Carboni, Nicolas Gonzalez, Alejandro Garnacho

AFP

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