Official: Messi and Aguero called up for Copa America | OneFootball

The Argentine Football Association have officially announced their 28-man squad that will be competing in Brazil for Copa America 2021, with the talismanic Lionel Messi and Sergio Agüero both included in the squad.

Ten days after completing his move to Barcelona, Agüero’s inclusion in the squad comes as a relief, from both a health and a sporting perspective, with Argentine manager Lionel Scaloni deciding to gamble on the veteran striker’s match fitness.

The former Manchester City striker tested positive for COVID-19 on June 2nd, but later tests determined it to be a false positive with the Argentinian national team conducting a follow-up test producing a negative result.

This will most likely be the first time Barça fans and the rest of the football world will be able to see Messi and Agüero together since Agüero’s move to the Catalan giants, and they will be hoping to start building the connection even more in Brazil.

After suffering so many setbacks together in the past, the two will be hoping to finally deliver a victory for La Albiceleste in a major tournament.

Indeed, their chances in this tournament this summer look strong with Scaloni calling up several world-class talents including the likes of Paris Saint-Germain’s Ángel Di María and Leandro Paredes, Serie A breakout star Rodrigo de Paul and the electrifying Lautaro Martínez looking to lead the line for Argentina.

Martínez has started for Argentina up top over the likes of Agüero in both recent qualifiers for the World Cup, but failed to register a goal in either game. They will also be hoping star goalkeeper for Aston Villa, Emiliano Martinez, is able to shake off the knock that saw him stretchered off in the 2-2 draw against Colombia earlier this Tuesday.

Despite the two draws they suffered, Argentina showed real promise, invention and threat when going forward. La Albiceleste have had their fair share of managerial headaches recently, but Scaloni seems to have steadied the ship since coming in as manager late in 2018.

With a clear formation and style of play, Argentina are looking sharp ahead of the tournament and with Lionel Messi hungry to bring silverware to his country, they are surely one of the teams to beat this summer in Brazil.

Article by Jordan Young