Though it wasn’t made public, Lionel Scaloni has already submitted his preliminary Argentina squad for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The list has between 40 and 50 players and it reportedly includes a young star once dubbed as “Mexican Messi.”
The wait will soon be over. Qatar 2022 is less than a month away and national team managers have already submitted their preliminary rosters for the highly anticipated FIFA World Cup. However, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni did not reveal it.
La Albiceleste go into the big tournament in very good spirits, having won the 2021 Copa America and the 2022 Finalissima, as well as finishing undefeated in South American qualifying. In addition, Lionel Messi arrives in great form.
Scaloni, who has turned Argentina’s fortunes around since taking charge in 2018, will soon have to decide which 26 players will make it to the finals at the World Cup. His preliminary roster of nearly 50 players is understood to include a young Mexican-born star.
Qatar 2022: Lionel Scaloni selects “Mexican Messi” in preliminary Argentina roster
According to Argentine journalist Gustavo Yarroch, the preliminary squad submitted by Lionel Scaloni includes Lazio young star Luka Romero. The 17-year-old has already been called up to the senior team for the March international break, in which Argentina faced Venezuela and Ecuador to conclude the Conmebol qualifiers.
The fun fact about Romero is that, though he has Argentine citizenship (his father Diego is a former Argentine footballer), he was born in Victoria de Durango, Mexico, where they even called him “Mexican Messi.” Romero built his career in Spain, where he moved with his family at only 3 years of age, but played for Argentina’s youth national teams.
