Lionel Messi will lead an Argentina team with four players under the age of 20 in two friendlies in the United States in March with the Copa América and the Paris Olympics in mind.
One of the biggest surprises of the squad called up on Friday by coach Lionel Scaloni was 19-year-old left back and midfielder Valentín Barco. He arrived at Brighton less than two months ago and has had an impact at the English Premier League club.
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The other three teenagers on the world championship team were forwards; Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United, Facundo Buonanotte from Brighton and Valentín Carboni from Monza.
The selection of Ángel Di María, 36, suggests that the 16-year-old international really wants to play in the Cup and the Olympic Games.
Argentina will play El Salvador on March 22 at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field and Costa Rica four days later at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the Argentine Soccer Association said Thursday. Argentina was originally scheduled to play Nigeria in Los Angeles, but a week later changed opponents due to visa issues.
Argentina captain Messi will miss Inter Miami's Major League Soccer match against the New York Red Bulls on March 23.
Argentina's two friendlies in March replace a tour of China canceled after Messi did not play in Miami's preseason match in Hong Kong. Argentina was scheduled to play Nigeria in Hangzhou and Ivory Coast in Beijing.
Messi said before Miami's friendly against a local all-star team in Hong Kong on February 4 that he was suffering from a groin injury and his absence sparked anger among spectators. He played three days later in Tokyo in an exhibition match against Vissel Kobe.
Argentina will also play exhibitions against Ecuador on June 9 at Soldier Field in Chicago and against Guatemala five days later at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland, before defending its Copa América title in the United States this summer.
Argentine team:
Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa), Walter Benítez (PSV Eindhoven), Franco Armani (River Plate).
Defenders: Germán Pezzella (Betis), Nehuén Pérez (Udinese), Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), Nicolás Tagliafico (Lyon), Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth), Valentín Barco (Brighton), Nahuel Molina (Atlético de Madrid) .
Midfielders: Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Rodrigo De Paul (Atlético de Madrid), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Leandro Paredes (Roma), Enzo Fernández (Chelsea), Giovani Lo Celso (Tottenham), Nico González (Fiorentina).
Forward: Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United), Facundo Buonanotte (Brighton), Valentín Carboni (Monza), Ángel Di María (Benfica), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Julián Álvarez (Manchester City), Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan), Paulo Dybala (Roma).
Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.
