FIFA World Cup 2018: Argentina name squad, Icardi misses out

Inter Milan's Icardi was the joint top goalscorer in Serie A this season

mauro-icardi-ap Inter Milan's Mauro Icardi reacts during the Serie A match against Lazio at the Rome Olympic Stadium | AP

Will this be Lionel Messi's final shot at the World Cup? Even as Argentina announced their 23-man squad, this is the question on everybody's mind. He is one of the eight surviving members from the 2014 World Cup squad—others being Javier Mascherano, Sergio Aguero, Sergio Romero, Gonzalo Higuain, Marcos Rojo, Lucas Biglia and Angel Di Maria.

The surprise omission has been that of Mauro Icardi, the Inter Milan forward who was the joint top goalscorer in Italy's Serie A this season. However, among the 23 players coach Jorge Sampaoli named for next month's tournament in Russia, he included just four forwards—Paulo Dybala, Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain, apart from Messi.

Icardi had scored 29 league goals for Inter Milan this season, and inspired his team to complete a 3-2 comeback win over Lazio on Serie A's final day to secure a Champions League berth.

Although Argentina boast some of world football's most prolific strikers, they have struggled for goals in competitive matches, scoring just 19 times in the South American group's 18 qualifying matches. Only Bolivia has scored fewer.

Argentina, who lost 1-0 to Germany in extra time in the World Cup final four years ago, qualified for this year's tournament thanks to a win in their final qualifying match.

They have been drawn in Group D alongside Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria.

Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (Manchester United), Willy Caballero (Manchester City), Franco Armani (River Plate)

Defenders: Gabriel Mercado (Sevilla), Cristian Ansaldi (Torino), Nicolas Otamendi (Manchester City), Federico Fazio (Roma), Marcos Rojo ( Manchester United), Nicolas Tagliafico (Ajax), Marcos Acuna (Sporting), Eduardo Salvio (Benfica)

Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Hebei), Lucas Biglia (Milan), Ever Banega (Sevilla), Giovani Lo Celso (PSG), Manuel Lanzini (West Ham), Angel Di Maria (PSG), Maxi Meza (Independiente)

Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Paulo Dybala (Juventus), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City), Gonzalo Higuain (Juventus), Cristian Pavon (Boca Juniors)

(With Reuters inputs)