Southampton's Alcaraz Joins Forces with Messi Following Argentina National Team Selection

 

Southampton's Alcaraz Joins Forces with Messi Following Argentina National Team Selection

Saints' young attacking midfielder, Charly Alcaraz, has received his maiden call-up to the prestigious Argentina national football team. This significant milestone places the 20-year-old talent in the same squad as the football legend, Lionel Messi. The Argentine squad is gearing up to participate in World Cup qualifiers, with matches scheduled against Paraguay on October 13 and Peru on October 18.

Alcaraz, who has recently featured in the starting lineup for Russell Martin's Southampton, is eager to open his scoring account for the season. He made a notable impact in the Premier League last season, netting four goals between January and May.

Argentina commenced their journey in the World Cup qualifiers for the 2026 tournament with an impressive start, winning their first two matches without conceding a single goal. In September, they secured a commanding 3-0 victory against Bolivia and a narrow 1-0 win over Ecuador.

Coach Lionel Scaloni has handpicked a talented pool of 34 players for the forthcoming international camp. Given the limited number of matches, it's unlikely that all these players will get an opportunity to feature in both games.

Here is the full list of players selected for the Argentina national team:

Goalkeepers:

1. Emi Martinez

2. Franco Armani

3. Juan Musso

4. Walter Benitez

Defenders:

5. Juan Foyth

6. Gonzalo Montiel

7. Nahuel Molina

8. German Pezzella

9. Cristian Romero

10. Lucas Martinez Quarta

11. Nicolas Otamendi

12. Marco Pellegrino

13. Marcos Acuna

14. Nicolas Tagliafico

15. Lucas Esquivel

Midfielders:

16. Leandro Paredes

17. Guido Rodriguez

18. Enzo Fernandez

19. Rodrigo De Paul

20. Exequiel Palacios

21. Charly Alcaraz

22. Giovani Lo Celso

23. Alexis Mac Allister

24. Thiago Almada

25. Bruno Zapelli

Forwards:

26. Paulo Dybala

27. Lionel Messi

28. Julian Alvarez

29. Lautaro Martinez

30. Facundo Farios

31. Lucas Beltran

32. Alejandro Garnacho

33. Nicolas Gonzalez

34. Lucas Ocampos

This inclusion in the Argentina national team is a remarkable achievement for Charly Alcaraz, and it underscores his burgeoning talent on the international stage.