Lionel Messi has been included in Lionel Scaloni's Argentina squad to take on Uruguay and Brazil in World Cup qualifiers in March, despite skipping Inter Miami's game at the Houston Dyanmo on Sunday due to fatigue.
Messi was rested by Miami boss Javier Mascherano after an intense period of travelling but is deemed fit enough to feature for the world champions later this month.
Manchester City's Claudio Echeverri is also named in the group despite not yet having made his debut for his new club, alongside Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister and Alejandro Garnacho of Manchester United.
Argentina are aiming to extend their five-point lead at the top of the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers table.
Mascherano confirmed after his side's 4-1 win over Houston that Messi was just suffering from tiredness after a busy period and was not injured.
He said: "Obviously we talked about it and I always say the same thing, there is no one in the world that knows their body as Leo knows it.
"After three games in six days, we thought that the best thing was to be able to rest, especially on a trip to the other coast of two-and-a-half, three hours."
Argentina play Uruguay in Montevideo on 21 March before hosting Brazil on 25 March.
Argentina squad: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Geronimo Rulli (Marseille), Walter Benitez (PSV); Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid), Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), German Pezzella (River Plate), Leonardo Balerdi (Marseille), Juan Foyth (Villarreal), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Facundo Medina (Lens), Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon), Francisco Ortega (Olympiacos); Leandro Paredes (Roma), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea), Rodrigo de Paul (Atletico Madrid), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis), Maximo Perrone (Como), Giuliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid), Benjamin Dominguez (Bologna), Thiago Almada (Lyon); Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United), Nicolas González (Juventus), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Nicolas Paz (Como), Claudio Echeverri (Manchester City), Paulo Dybala (Roma), Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid), Lautaro Martinez (Inter), Santiago Castro (Bologna), Angel Correa (Atletico Madrid).
invader_qz
34
Without the King , There ain't a Kingdom
putimopruy
19
Messi is desperate once again, he is all out to help Argentina defend the world cup while Cristiano is running after 1k goal instead of saving his energy to help Portugal who has never win the world cup or play in final.
putimopruy
10
The truth is, Messi is just a genius, and he is wiser, smarter and use his brain than others. Some years back Messi shock the world when he voluntryly retired from international football because of lack of success to win trophy but he was begged to return by Argentina people and his president specifically talk to him to return and he did and rest was history. Messi agreed to return to international football because he knows that without winning the world cup for Argentina he would never bee regarded as Maradona successor because Argentina people believe Messi's too much dedication to Barcelona is affecting his commitment to National team, of course, Messi was accused of not carrying Argentina the way he carry barca which was very true then, so since then Messi put Argentina national team first but before it was barca first. Cristiano put himself first before Portugal or any team and it is his greatest undoing. Messi has achieved far far at club side than Cristiano and at national team. If Messi didn't leave Barcelona he wouldn't won the world cup, because all the load in barca was upon him but when went to psg and Mbappe was made psg leader Messi saw that as an advantage and opportunity to safe his strength and energy for Argentina national team because he was not the only one who carry the burden of psg so he was able to help Argentina achieve the their aim. Some people said he flopped at psg when he won 2 leagues tittles in 2 seasons.