What’s been Messi’s most impressive competition debut so far? (1:28)Herculez Gomez picks Lionel Messi’s most impressive competition debut since arriving at Inter Miami. (1:28)
Lionel Messi was among three MLS-based players to be called up by Argentina on Thursday for the opening rounds of South American World Cup qualifying.
Thiago Almada of Atlanta United and Alan Velasco of FC Dallas were also included by coach Lionel Scaloni for games against Ecuador and Bol?via in September.
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The 36-year-old Messi joined Inter Miami in July and has already scored 11 goals for the club.
World Cup champion Argentina will take on Ecuador at home on Sept. 7 in Buenos Aires, before playing Bolivia away in La Paz five days later.
Lionel Messi came up against FC Dallas’ Alan Velasco in one of his early appearances for Inter Miami. Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Argentina squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Franco Armani (River Plate), Walter Ben?tez (PSV Eindhoven), Emiliano Mart?nez (Aston Villa), and Juan Musso (Atalanta).
Defenders: Lucas Esquivel (Athletico Paranaense), Juan Foyth (Villarreal), Lisandro Mart?nez (Manchester United), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid), Gonzalo Montiel (Nottingham Forest), Nicol?s Otamendi (Benfica), Germ?n Pezzella (Real Betis), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth) and Nicol?s Tagliafico (Lyon).
Midfielders: Thiago Almada (Atlanta United), Facundo Buonanotte (Brighton), Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid), Enzo Fern?ndez (Chelsea), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Leandro Paredes (AS Roma), Guido Rodr?guez (Real Betis) and Bruno Zapelli (Athletico Paranaense).
Forwards: Juli?n ?lvarez (Manchester City), Lucas Beltran (Fiorentina), Nicolas Gonzalez (Fiorentina), ?ngel Correa (Atletico Madrid), ?ngel Di Mar?a (Benfica), Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United), Lautaro Mart?nez (Inter Milan), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) and Alan Velasco (FC Dallas).