Argentina face Uruguay on Friday, 6am Bangladesh Time before playing Brazil next Wednesday (6.30am Bangladesh Time).

The 26-year-old Maffeo, born to an Argentine mother, is joined by Olympiakos left-back Francisco Ortega as newcomers for the World Cup champions' home game against Uruguay on Thursday and their trip to Brazil five days later.

Messi, who has said he will retire before the 2026 World Cup, was included in the squad despite carrying a muscle problem which has kept him out of action for club side Inter Miami.

Argentina host Paraguay at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires on Friday at 5am, Bangladesh Time.

After a dazzling start to his career in Major League Soccer, Lionel Messi returns to international duty with Argentina this week as South America's long qualifying road to the 2026 World Cup kicks off today.

Messi, the Argentina captain, last week announced he would join the MLS side after reaching the end of his two-year deal with French giants Paris Saint-Germain.

Napoli forward Giovanni Simeone, the son of Atletico coach Diego Simeone, and Manchester United starboy Alejandro Garnacho are among the members of the Argentina squad for La Albiceleste's Asia tour. 

French media on Tuesday reported that a move to a Saudi club was a "done deal", adding that the Argentina captain was in the process of finalising details before signing a contract

There are a lot of traits that make a team like the reigning World Cup champions Argentina successful. 

Argentina’s seven-goal demolition of visitors Curacao on Tuesday saw the return of Giovani Lo Celso who demonstrated why the three-time world champions badly missed the on-loan Villarreal midfielder during their Qatar World Cup campaign last year despite eventually having gone on to bag the ultimate prize in the sport.

Argentina beat Panama 2-0 in a friendly on Thursday with goals from Thiago Almada and Lionel Messi amid a festive atmosphere in their first game in front of their home fans after winning the World Cup in December.

Having fulfilled a lifetime dream, Lionel Messi will get to celebrate with Argentina's fans on Thursday as they play their first match after winning the World Cup in Qatar last year.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said his players need to maintain their high competitive level after beating France on penalties to win the country's third World Cup in Qatar last year.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said his players need to maintain their high competitive level after beating France on penalties to win the country's third World Cup in Qatar last year.

Garnacho has made a meteoric rise at United this season, making 27 appearances for Eric ten Hag's side, including 10 starts, and scoring four goals, the latest of which was the decisive strike in the Red Devils' 3-1 FA Cup last 16 victory over West Ham on Wednesday

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has extended his contract until 2026, the country's FA said on Monday after he led the team to their World Cup triumph in Qatar last year.

Former Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel and the Chelsea women's coach Emma Hayes won in 2021 and FIFA will reveal their successors in Paris on February 27.

Lionel Messi has surpassed Diego Maradona as the greatest player of all time, Argentina's World Cup winning coach Lionel Scaloni has said.

Lionel Messi’s Argentina, reigning world champions, have agreed to come to Bangladesh for a friendly match in June this year, given all the conditions are met, informed Bangladesh Football Federation’s vice-president Ataur Rahman Bhuiyan Manik.

Argentina featured heavily in shortlists for FIFA's Best awards following their World Cup triumph, with forwards Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez, goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and coach Lionel Scaloni receiving nominations in their categories.