Argentina roster for November 2026 friendlies: First squad without Lionel Messi for matches vs. Uruguay, Costa Rica

Argentina roster for November 2026 friendlies: First squad without Lionel Messi for matches vs. Uruguay, Costa Rica originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . Lionel Scaloni and Argentina are entering a new era of the national team's history as they get ready to meet Uruguay and Costa Rica in a pair of international friendlies this November. These two matches will be the first without retired legends Lionel Messi and Nicolas Otamendi, who made their farewell to international football last international break against Benin . Now, the Albiceleste will begin building towards the 2030 FIFA World Cup by moving forward without those two superstars, figuring out the impossible task of replacing them as best they can. Last international break, the Albiceleste beat Bolivia and Burkina Faso by big margins without Messi, but his farewell against Benin was still on everyone's mind the whole way. Now, with his retirement in the rear view mirror, Scaloni will navigate friendlies against Uruguay and Costa Rica as the first true proving ground for players in the effort to move forward into the new era. MORE: Lionel Messi explains retirement from international duty Argentina roster for November friendlies vs. Uruguay, Costa Rica Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has called in 28 players for the two friendly matches in the November 2026 international break. The Albiceleste will meet Uruguay first on Friday, November 13 at La Bombonera, before facing CONCACAF nation Costa Rica four days later on Tuesday, November 17 at Mario Kempes Stadium in Cordoba. Pos Name Club Caps Age GK Santiago Beltran River Plate (ARG) 1 22 GK Emiliano Martinez Chelsea (ENG) 70 34 GK Juan Musso Atletico Madrid (ESP) 4 32 GK Geronimo Rulli Manchester City (ENG) 9 34 DEF Aaron Anselmino Chelsea (ENG) 0 21 DEF Leonardo Balerdi AS Roma (ITA) 13 27 DEF Agustin Glay Palmeiras (BRA) 6 0 DEF Lisandro Martinez Man United (ENG) 38 28 DEF Facundo Medina Bayer Leverkusen (GER) 16 27 DEF Gonzalo Montiel River Plate (ARG) 45 29 DEF Nicolas Tagliafico Lyon (FRA) 84 34 DEF Mariano Troilo Parma (ITA) 0 23 DEF Roman Vega Zenit St. Petersburg (RUS) 1 22 MID Valentin Barco Chelsea (ENG) 7 22 MID Enzo Fernandez Man City (ENG) 51 25 MID Ezequiel Fernandez Bayer Leverkusen (GER) 1 24 MID Alexis Mac Allister Liverpool (ENG) 57 27 MID Exequiel Palacios Ipswich Town (ENG) 44 28 MID Nico Paz Como (ITA) 14 22 MID Maximo Perrone Como (ITA) 2 23 MID Matias Soule AS Roma (ITA) 1 23 FWD Thiago Almada River Plate (ARG) 21 25 FWD Julian Alvarez Atletico Madrid (ESP) 62 26 FWD Santiago Castro AS Roma (ITA) 1 22 FWD Jose Manuel Lopez Palmeiras (BRA) 8 25 FWD Franco Mastantuono Fiorentina (ITA) 7 19 FWD Gianluca Prestianni Benfica (POR) 3 20 FWD Giuliano Simeone Atletico Madrid (ESP) 17 23 First Argentina roster without Lionel Messi, Nicolas Otamendi Lionel Scaloni's first roster without retired veterans Lionel Messi and Nicolas Otamendi came with a number of brand new names. Chelsea youngster  Aaron Anselmino  was a surprise inclusion, as the 21-year-old has yet to appear in a single game for the Premier League club yet this season. Other young players included on the roster with little international experience include Roma forward  Santiago Castro  and his club teammate Matias Soule , uncapped Parma defender  Mariano Troilo , and Zenit St. Petersburg full-back  Roman Vega .