Argentina have announced their 24-man squad for the upcoming FIFA international friendly against Angola, scheduled to take place on 14 November in Luanda. Head coach Lionel Scaloni unveiled the squad on Thursday, revealing a blend of experience and youth as the world champions continue their preparations for future competitions.
As expected, Lionel Messi has been named in the team, ensuring that fans will once again see the talismanic captain in action. However, two notable omissions have drawn attention — Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, a key figure in Argentina’s World Cup-winning campaign, and Real Madrid forward Franco Mastantuano, one of the rising stars in European football.
Scaloni has opted against including any domestic league players in this squad, taking into account the ongoing playoff phase in the Argentine Primera División. Consequently, Lautaro Rivero (River Plate), Marcos Acuña, and Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors) have all been rested.
Below is the complete Argentina squad announced for the friendly match:
| Position | Players | Club |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Gerónimo Rulli | Marseille |
| Walter Benítez | Crystal Palace | |
| Defenders | Nahuel Molina | Atlético Madrid |
| Juan Foyth | Villarreal | |
| Cristian Romero | Tottenham Hotspur | |
| Nicolás Otamendi | Benfica | |
| Marcos Senesi | Bournemouth | |
| Nicolás Tagliafico | Lyon | |
| Midfielders | Alexis Mac Allister | Liverpool |
| Máximo Perrone | Como | |
| Rodrigo De Paul | Inter Miami | |
| Enzo Fernández | Chelsea | |
| Thiago Almada | Atlético Madrid | |
| Giovani Lo Celso | Real Betis | |
| Nicolás Paz | Como | |
| Forwards | Lionel Messi | Inter Miami |
| Lautaro Martínez | Inter Milan | |
| Julián Álvarez | Atlético Madrid | |
| Nicolás González | Atlético Madrid | |
| José Manuel López | Palmeiras | |
| Gianluca Prestianni | Benfica | |
| Joaquín Panichelli | Strasbourg | |
| Giuliano Simeone | Atlético Madrid |
Scaloni’s latest selection appears to focus on testing squad depth while maintaining a competitive balance ahead of Argentina’s next major tournaments — the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and the Copa América. With Messi leading the side and several emerging talents in the mix, Argentina are expected to field a strong and dynamic team against Angola.
The omission of Martínez may also hint at Scaloni’s intention to experiment with alternatives in goal, giving Rulli and Benítez the opportunity to prove themselves on the international stage. Fans, meanwhile, will eagerly anticipate seeing how Argentina’s younger generation performs alongside their legendary captain.
