Injured forward Paulo Dybala was named in the 26-member Argentina squad for the Qatar 2022 World Cup, on Friday, with Lionel Messi named the skipper.
Dybala has not played for his club AS Roma since early October. But coach Lionel Scaloni hopes he will regain his fitness before Argentina's World Cup campaign begins on November 22 against Group C opponents Saudi Arabia.
Messi, 35, will be playing in his fifth World Cup and will have fellow veterans Angel Di Maria and Nicolas Otamendi for company.
Argentina won the Copa America title last year.
"They are proud to be called up and wear this jersey, let's hope that you as fans are too. All together," coach Scaloni said in an Instagram video.
Argentina will be without Giovani Lo Celso, after the midfielder injured a hamstring last month while playing for Villarreal. Leandro Paredes and Rodrigo De Paul will be the midfield generals, while the defence will be led by centre-back Otamendi, who is likely to be partnered with Manchester United's Lisandro Martinez or Tottenham Hotspur's Cristian Romero.
Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez, 22, was named in the squad after a stellar year where he scored 18 goals while on loan at Argentine club River Plate before netting seven times in all competitions for Premier League City.
Inter Milan forward Lautaro Martinez, who scored 25 goals last season and has begun this campaign with eight in all competitions, is expected to lead the line.
Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, one of Argentina's heroes at the Copa America last year, will also be making his World Cup debut this year. Argentina also play Mexico and Poland in Group C.
SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Franco Armani (River Plate) and Geronimo Rulli (Villarreal)
Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel (Sevilla), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid), German Pezzella (Real Betis), Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United), Juan Foyth (Villarreal), Nicolas Tagliafico (Olympique Lyonnais), Marcos Acuna (Sevilla)
Midfielders: Leandro Paredes (Juventus), Guido Rodriguez (Real Betis), Enzo Fernandez (Benfica), Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Alejandro Gomez (Sevilla), Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Forwards: Paulo Dybala (AS Roma), Lionel Messi (Paris St Germain), Angel Di Maria (Juventus), Nicolas Gonzalez (Fiorentina), Joaquin Correa (Inter Milan), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan), Julian Alvarez (Manchester City).
