Argentina Copa America squad 2024: Lionel Messi leads list of players in national team roster for USA tournament

Dom Farrell

Argentina Copa America squad 2024: Lionel Messi leads list of players in national team roster for USA tournament image

Argentina are aiming to make it three successes in as many major tournaments at the Copa America in the United States.

The world champions kicked off a glorious era by beating Brazil on home soil in the final of the 2021 tournament, laying the groundwork for their stirring march to World Cup glory in Qatar, where they beat France on penalties in the final.

Inspirational captain Lionel Messi has returned to try to add another medal to his collection, with head coach Lionel Scaloni once again tasked with blending youth and experience into a winning formula.

On June 15, Scaloni named his 26-man squad for Argentina's tournament this summer. Messi, of course, was included, but there were one or two more surprising decisions.

MORE: Key dates and schedule for Copa America 2024

How many players are in Copa America 2024 squads?

Teams had the opportunity to name provisional squads of up to 55 players for pre-tournament training camps and friendly matches. These groups had to be a minimum of 35 players and contain at least four goalkeepers.

The final rosters, which were confirmed by June 15 (except for Paraguay, who had until June 18), comprise a maximum of 26 players. At least three of these players must be goalkeepers, and they must all be selected from the provisional squad, except in exceptional circumstances.

Argentina Copa America squad 2024: Official roster

Here is the full squad named for Argentina's 2024 Copa America.

Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez made the cut despite an injury-ruined season, although there was no place for Paulo Dybala.

Ages, caps are correct as of provisional squad announcement on May 20, 2024.

PositionPlayerClubAgeCaps
GKFranco ArmaniRiver Plate (ARG)3719
GKEmiliano MartinezAston Villa (ENG)3137
GKGeronimo RulliAjax (NED)324
DEFMarcos AcunaSevilla (SPA)3256
DEFLisandro MartinezManchester United (ENG)2616
DEFNahuel MolinaAtletico Madrid (SPA)2535
DEFGonzalo MontielNottingham Forest (ENG)2724
DEFNicolas OtamendiBenfica (POR)36111
DEFGerman PezzellaReal Betis (SPA)3240
DEFLucas Martinez QuartaFiorentina (ITA)2812
DEFCristian RomeroTottenham (ENG)2630
DEFNicolas TagliaficoLyon (FRA)3157
MIDGiovani Lo CelsoTottenham (ENG)2850
MIDEnzo FernandezChelsea (ENG)2319
MIDAlexis Mac AllisterLiverpool (ENG)2525
MIDExequiel PalaciosBayer Leverkusen2528
MIDLeandro ParedesRoma (ITA)2960
MIDRodrigo De PaulAtletico Madrid (SPA)2962
MIDGuido RodriguezReal Betis (SPA)3029
FWDJulian AlvarezManchester City (ENG)2429
FWDValentin CarboniMonza (ITA)191
FWDAlejandro GarnachoManchester United (ENG)195
FWDNicolas GonzalezFiorentina (ITA)2632
FWDAngel Di MariaBenfica (POR)36138
FWDLautaro MartinezInter Milan (ITA)2656
FWDLionel MessiInter Miami (USA)36180

Can Argentina replace players on Copa America roster?

Competition regulations state that once the final roster has been made official, changes can only be made due to injury or illness up until the team's opening match of the tournament.

CONMEBOL's tournament regulations also state: "In case of serious injury or detection of pathological clinical elements of any player, after the submission of the squad list, and which prevents the player from playing in the tournament, the replacement of such player by another player included in the provisional squad list will be allowed up to 24 hours before the first match of the team in the competition, subject to the approval of the CONMEBOL Medical Commission."

MORE: Will Messi win the MLS Golden Boot?

Argentina Copa America 2024 schedule, matches

Argentina played two Copa America warm-up matches in early June against Ecuador (on June 9) and Guatemala (June 14).

They beat Ecuador 1-0 thanks to Angel Di Maria's first-half strike before they went on to put four past Guatemala, where Messi bagged a brace. 

Their tournament then began against Canada at Mercedes Benz Stadium on June 20 — the opening match of Group A and the competition as a whole — before they faced Chile at MetLife Stadium and Peru at Hard Rock Stadium.

Argentina Copa America 2024 match schedule

DateMatch TypeOpponentVenueTime (ET)
June 9Warm-up1-0 vs. EcuadorSoldier Field, IL6 p.m.
June 14Warm-up4-0 vs. GuatemalaFedExField, MD8 p.m.
June 20Group Stage MD 12-0 vs. CanadaMercedes Benz Stadium, GA8 p.m.
June 25Group Stage MD 21-0 vs. ChileMetLife Stadium, NJ9 p.m.
June 29Group Stage MD 32-0 vs. PeruHard Rock Stadium, FL8 p.m.
July 4Quarterfinalsvs. EcuadorNRG Stadium, TX9 p.m.

COPA AMERICA 2024 TICKETS: Click here for cheapest seats at Argentina matches

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Dom Farrell

Dom Farrell Photo

Dom is the senior content producer for Sporting News UK. He previously worked as fan brands editor for Manchester City at Reach Plc. Prior to that, he built more than a decade of experience in the sports journalism industry, primarily for the Stats Perform and Press Association news agencies. Dom has covered major football events on location, including the entirety of Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup in Paris and St Petersburg respectively, along with numerous high-profile Premier League, Champions League and England international matches. Cricket and boxing are his other major sporting passions and he has covered the likes of Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, Wladimir Klitschko, Gennadiy Golovkin and Vasyl Lomachenko live from ringside.