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.
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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.

PosNameClubCapsAgeGKSantiago BeltranRiver Plate (ARG)122GKEmiliano MartinezChelsea (ENG)7034GKJuan MussoAtletico Madrid (ESP)432GKGeronimo RulliManchester City (ENG)934DEFAaron AnselminoChelsea (ENG)021DEFLeonardo BalerdiAS Roma (ITA)1327DEFAgustin GlayPalmeiras (BRA)60DEFLisandro MartinezMan United (ENG)3828DEFFacundo MedinaBayer Leverkusen (GER)1627DEFGonzalo MontielRiver Plate (ARG)4529DEFNicolas TagliaficoLyon (FRA)8434DEFMariano TroiloParma (ITA)023DEFRoman VegaZenit St. Petersburg (RUS)122MIDValentin BarcoChelsea (ENG)722MIDEnzo FernandezMan City (ENG)5125MIDEzequiel FernandezBayer Leverkusen (GER)124MIDAlexis Mac AllisterLiverpool (ENG)5727MIDExequiel PalaciosIpswich Town (ENG)4428MIDNico PazComo (ITA)1422MIDMaximo PerroneComo (ITA)223MIDMatias SouleAS Roma (ITA)123FWDThiago AlmadaRiver Plate (ARG)2125FWDJulian AlvarezAtletico Madrid (ESP)6226FWDSantiago CastroAS Roma (ITA)122FWDJose Manuel LopezPalmeiras (BRA)825FWDFranco MastantuonoFiorentina (ITA)719FWDGianluca PrestianniBenfica (POR)320FWDGiuliano SimeoneAtletico Madrid (ESP)1723

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.