Argentina captain Lionel Messi was called up Monday by new coach Gerardo Martino for friendlies against Brazil and Hong Kong, but Juventus striker Carlos Tevez was snubbed again.
Messi, 27, returns for the Albiceleste after a groin injury saw him miss out on his former Barcelona coach Martino’s debut in a 4-2 friendly win against world champions Germany.
Tevez was absent from the 19-man squad named on Monday, despite earlier press reports that he was set to return after three years in the international wilderness.
Photo: EPA
The 30-year-old striker was shunned by former coach Alejandro Sabella, but his successor was reported to be keen to see the 30-year-old forward return.
Tevez scored 13 goals in 64 matches for Argentina between 2004 and 2011, before being frozen out.
He won English Premier League titles with Manchester United in 2007-2008 and 2008-2009, as well as the UEFA Champions League in 2007-2008, before adding a third English title with Manchester City in 2011-2012.
Photo: Reuters
His current club Juventus won the Serie A crown last season, while in 2002-2003 he lifted the Copa Libertadores with Boca Juniors.
The Buenos Aires native is also a three-time South American Player of the Year (2003, 2004 and 2005).
Martino took over from Sabella, who stepped down after leading the two-time world champions to the 2014 FIFA World Cup final, where they were beaten 1-0 by Germany after extra-time.
Argentina play Brazil in Beijing on Oct. 10 and in Hong Kong four days later.
Argentina squad: Goalkeepers; Sergio Romero (UC Sampdoria), Nahuel Guzman (Tigres); Defenders; Mateo Musacchio (Villarreal), Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City), Martin Demichelis (Manchester City), Marcos Rojo (Manchester United), Santiago Vergini (Sunderland), Federico Fernandez (Swansea City); Midfielders; Javier Mascherano (Barcelona), Lucas Biglia (SS Lazio), Javier Pastore (Paris Saint-Germain), Roberto Pereyra (Juventus), Angel di Maria (Manchester United), Erik Lamela (Tottenham Hotspur), Enzo Perez (SL Benfica), Nicolas Gaitan (SL Benfica); Strikers; Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City), Gonzalo Higuain (SSC Napoli).
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