Messi to captain Argentina at the World Cup / Photo: Jeff Dean - GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
-
Myanmar film wins top prize at Czech festival
-
Noskova cries tears of joy after emotional Wimbledon final
-
Ton-up Buttler takes new No 1 England to T20 series sweep of India
-
Kriel seals thrilling win for South Africa over brave Scotland
-
Death toll in Venezuela earthquakes surpasses 4,300
-
Russian strikes kill eight in Ukraine, officials say
-
Noskova survives tearful meltdown to win first Wimbledon title
-
Lone foray cost Slock, says breakaway Tour de France partner
-
Five-wicket Gaud stars before India run riot in women's Test at Lord's
-
Tour de France stage to be shortened amid heatwave as sprinter Merlier doubles up
-
France hosts S.Africa leader for talks, war remembrance
-
Typhoon makes landfall in China after forcing nearly two million to flee
-
Pollock a hat-trick hero as England hammer Fiji to end losing streak
-
Sunday's Tour de France ninth stage shortened due to 'intense heatwave'
-
Ryu loses count as she blasts 60 for Evian lead
-
Pollock scores a hat-trick as England hammer Fiji to end losing streak
-
Merlier wins eighth stage of the Tour de France in bunch sprint
-
Sinner defends Wimbledon crown against revitalised Zverev
-
Former nearly-man Zverev on cusp of French Open-Wimbledon double
-
Russian strikes kill six in Ukraine, officials say
-
Five-wicket Gaud puts India on top in inaugural women's Test at Lord's
-
Marc Marquez still 'King of the Ring' after winning Sprint at German MotoGP
-
Klopp reaches 'understanding' to take over as Germany coach
-
Patten, Heliovaara crowned Wimbledon men's doubles champions
-
Nigerian forces suffered casualties in Oyo kidnap rescue: army
-
South Africa World Cup midfielder Adams dies at 25
-
'Our land, our sky:' West Bank Palestinians fly kites in defiance of Israeli settlers
-
Iran supreme leader vows revenge for father's killing
-
'Relieved' Farrell credits pluck of the Irish after Japan examination
-
Ireland 'flattered' as they beat Japan to stretch win streak
-
US rapper Pitbull sets bald cap world record at London show
-
'Ring the bells': residents recall escape from deadly Spanish wildfire
-
India strike early before England lose Jones in women's Test at Lord's
-
Paris landmarks shutter early as quarter of France swelters under heatwave
-
Ireland tame Japan 36-20 to stretch win streak to six
-
Marc Marquez claims pole at Germany MotoGP, Bezzecchi breaks collarbone
-
Nearly 2 million people flee in China as typhoon lashes Taiwan, Japan islands
-
Marc Marquez claims pole at Germany MotoGP
-
Firefighters gain upper hand on deadly Spain wildfire
-
France roar back to overwhelm Australia 42-26 in Nations Championship
-
Mediators try to salvage diplomacy after US-Iran strikes
-
France overwhelm Australia 42-26 in Nations Championship
-
Fresh arrests hit opposition-run district in Ankara
-
Nigerian forces suffered casualties in kidnap rescue: army
-
German-born Segner 'over the moon' as All Blacks dream comes true
-
Over 900,000 people flee in China as typhoon lashes Taiwan, Japan islands
-
African results justify World Cup slots increase amid criticism
-
MSF Ebola training in Kenya prepares doctors for 'intense' job
-
Jordan humbled to break try record as All Blacks rout Italy 47-17
-
Duplantis thrives on new home turf in Monaco
Messi to captain Argentina at the World Cup
Lionel Messi will captain Argentina at the World Cup, national coach Lionel Scaloni announced Thursday as he unveiled his 26-man squad.
Messi, 38, had not previously confirmed he would play in what will be a record-breaking sixth tournament for the Argentine superstar.
But it had been widely assumed the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner would again lead Argentina's defence, four years after lifting the trophy in Qatar.
As well as confirming Messi's presence, Thursday's announcement notably excluded Real Madrid's Franco Mastantuono from the Argentina squad.
Eighteen-year-old Mastantuono is considered one of the brightest prospects in Argentine football.
The largest ever World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, kicks off June 11.
Argentina's first match will be five days later against Algeria in Kansas City.
Messi has been at the heart of an injury scare in recent days, with his club side Inter Miami this week saying medical tests diagnosed him with muscle fatigue in his left hamstring.
The Major League Soccer club had provided no clear timetable for Messi's return after his abrupt exit from Miami's 6-4 victory over Philadelphia in the 73rd minute on Sunday.
But Scaloni had played down the seriousness of the injury this week.
The South American giants will journey to the United States for pre-World Cup friendlies against Honduras on June 6 and Iceland on June 9.
Their World Cup group also contains Austria and Jordan.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa, END), Geronimo Rulli (Marseille, FRA), Juan Musso (Atletico Madrid, ESP)
Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate, ARG), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid, ESP), Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United, ENG), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica, POR), Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique Marseille, FRA), Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur, ENG), Facundo Medina (Marseille, FRA), Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon, FRA).
Midfielders: Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors, ARG), Rodrigo de Paul (Inter Miami, USA), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen, GER), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea, ENG), Alexis MacAllister (Liverpool, ENG), Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis, ESP), Valentin Barco (Strasbourg).
Attackers: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami, USA), Nicolas Paz (Como, ITA), Thiago Almada (Atletico Madrid, ESP), Nicolas Gonzalez (Atletico Madrid, ESP), Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid, ESP), Giuliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid, ESP), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan, ITA), Jose Manuel Lopez (Palmeiras, BRA).
P.Silva--AMWN
