The announcement came despite an injury scare this week. Inter Miami confirmed Messi suffered muscle fatigue in his left hamstring after leaving their 6-4 win over Philadelphia in the 73rd minute on Sunday.
Scaloni played down the seriousness of the issue and Messi’s inclusion suggests he is expected to be fit in time for Argentina’s opener against Algeria in Kansas City on 16 June.
Centre-back Cristian Romero was also named despite not playing since suffering a knee injury last month. The Tottenham captain was ruled out for the remainder of the Premier League season after being shoved into his own goalkeeper by Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey.
The squad retains 17 players from the 2022 World Cup winning group in Qatar. Notable absentees include highly rated Real Madrid teenager Franco Mastantuono, in-form Aston Villa midfielder Emiliano Buendia and Roma forward Paulo Dybala. Young inclusions Nicolas Paz and Valentin Barco are among the new faces.
Atletico Madrid have six players in the squad – Nahuel Molina, Nicolas Otamendi, Thiago Almada, Nicolas Gonzalez, Julian Alvarez and Giuliano Simeone. Argentina face Honduras and Iceland in pre-tournament friendlies before their Group J campaign begins.
Along with Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa are also set to make record sixth World Cup appearances this summer.
Argentina are among the favourites to defend their title.
Full squad:
Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Geronimo Rulli (Marseille), Juan Musso (Atletico Madrid)
Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid), Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Leonardo Balerdi (Marseille), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), Facundo Medina (Marseille), Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon)
Midfielders: Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors), Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis), Valentin Barco (Strasbourg)
Forwards: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Nicolas Paz (Como), Thiago Almada (Atletico Madrid), Nicolas Gonzalez (Atletico Madrid), Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid), Giuliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan), Jose Manuel Lopez (Palmeiras)
– AFP
Photo: Elsa/Getty Images
