BUENOS AIRES: Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi and the returning Sergio Aguero headed the 23-man Copa America squad announced by Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni on Tuesday.

Paris St Germain winger Angel Di Maria was also included but Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi was left out while there was no place for striker Gonzalo Higuain, who is on loan at Chelsea from Juventus.

“These are the best players in an important time for the national team,” said Scaloni ahead of the tournament hosted by Brazil, which begins on June 14, with the attacking trio of Messi, Di Maria and Aguero looking for their first major international title after losing three finals at the 2014 World Cup and 2015 and 2016 Copa America.

Argentina haven’t won a major trophy since the 1993 Copa America in Ecuador. They will play in Group ‘B’ alongside Colombia, Paraguay and guests Qatar, the 2022 World Cup hosts and current Asian champions.

Messi, who only returned to the Argentina squad in March after an eight-month absence following the World Cup in Russia, will turn 32 during the competition.

Di Maria, like Messi, made his post-World Cup return in March ahead of friendlies against Venezuela and Morocco, but Scaloni called up Aguero for the first time since Argentina’s 4-3 last 16 defeat to eventual champions France in Russia after the striker helped Manchester City complete a domestic treble in England.

“The figures speak for themselves,” Scaloni said about Aguero. “We need to make the pieces fit so we give him the chance to do what he does for his club.”

Icardi has been a regular in Scaloni’s squads but he recently lost his starting position at Inter because of a contract dispute and the Argentina coach prefers to pick players that get more playing time for their teams.

“Keeping everyone happy is difficult,” admitted Scaloni, who said he’d had “doubts right until the end” over the final squad make-up.

Scaloni included nine players that were at the World Cup in Russia last year, mixed with a new generation that includes Tottenham Hotspur defender Juan Foyth, Udinese midfielder Rodrigo de Paul and River Plate striker Exequiel Palacios.

“We are building something today,” said Cesar Luis Menotti, the 1978 World Cup-winning coach who is now a director at Argentina’s football federation. “The objective is to prepare for the World Cup, but that doesn’t mean Copa America is not important.”

Squad: Goalkeepers: Esteban Andrada (Boca Juniors), Franco Armani (River Plate), Agustin Marchesin (America de Mexico); Defenders: Renzo Saravia (Racing), Nicolas Otamendi (Manchester City), Juan Foyth (Tottenham Hotspur), German Pezzella (Fiorentina), Ramiro Funes Mori (Villarreal), Milton Casco (River Plate), Nicolas Tagliafico (Ajax Amsterdam), Marcos Acuna (Sporting Lisbon); Midfielders: Rodrigo De Paul (Udinese), Leandro Paredes, Angel Di Maria (Paris St Germain), Roberto Pereyra (Watford), Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis), Guido Rodriguez (America de Mexico), Exequiel Palacios (River Plate); Strikers: Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City), Paulo Dybala (Juventus), Matias Suarez (River Plate), Lautaro Martnez (Inter Milan).

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2019