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Argentina call up Messi for World Cup qualifier against Neymar's Brazil
The crunch CONMEBOL encounter on September 5 will mark the first time the two icons face each other as PSG teammates, and will come less than two months after Messi inspired Argentina to a 1-0 victory over Brazil in the Copa America final.
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Paris Saint-Germain's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (left) and Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian forward Neymar watch the French L1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain and Racing Club Strasbourg at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on August 14, 2021.
(AFP/GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT )
S
uperstar Lionel Messi was called up on Monday to the Argentina squad due to face his new Paris Saint-Germain teammate Neymar and Brazil in a World Cup qualifier next month.
The crunch CONMEBOL encounter on September 5 will mark the first time the two icons face each other as PSG teammates, and will come less than two months after Messi inspired Argentina to a 1-0 victory over Brazil in the Copa America final.
The highly-anticipated encounter is sandwiched between two other World Cup qualifiers, with Argentina playing Venezuela on September 2 and Bolivia a week later.
Brazil lead the single CONMEBOL qualifying group with a perfect 18 points from six matches, while Argentina are second with 12 points and also unbeaten.
Messi won his first international trophy in July as he helped Argentina end a 27-year wait for major silverware by upsetting Brazil at Rio de Janeiro's iconic Maracana stadium.
The two countries' star players are yet to play alongside each other this season as both have been given an extended break by PSG following their Copa exertions.
Read also: Messi watches on as PSG make hard work of beating Strasbourg
After more than two decades playing at Barcelona, Messi is widely expected to make his PSG debut this weekend away to Reims.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni sprung no surprises in his squad with Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez and Paulo Dybala of Juventus included among powerful-looking forward options, although new Barca signing Sergio Aguero misses out through injury.
Two other PSG players, Angel Di Maria, who scored the winner in the Copa America final, and Leandro Paredes are in the squad.
PSG defender Marquinhos will join Neymar in the Brazil squad.
