De Paul and Lo Celso cut from Argentina squad for November friendlies

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni hase dropped Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso from his squad for November's friendlies against Uruguay and Costa Rica, first matches since Lionel Messi retired from international football.

Argentina will begin life without Messi, who retired from international football in October, with several notable absentees for the two matches.

Scaloni, whose contract renewal could be announced during the international window, left several established names out of his 28-man squad for technical reasons, injuries or suspensions.

The world champions will be without midfielders De Paul (Inter Miami) and Lo Celso (Real Betis), apparently at the coach's discretion.

Defender and new Albiceleste captain Cristian 'Cuti' Romero and striker Lautaro Martínez are also absent through injury.

That means goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez will be stand-in skipper for the friendly matches.

Midfielder Leandro Paredes and full-back Nahuel Molina, meanwhile, still have suspensions to serve following incidents after Argentina's defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final.

The main new face in the squad is centre-back Aaron Anselmino, of Chelsea, who has yet to make his international debut or play for the London club's first team so far this season.

Defensive returns

Defender Mariano Troilo (Parma) returns after an absence of a year and a half, while full-back Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate) is back after missing the September and October international windows.

Argentina will host Uruguay at La Bombonera on November 13 in the Río de la Plata derby, before welcoming Costa Rica four days later at the Mario Kempes Stadium in Córdoba.

The matches will be Argentina's first since Messi, 39, retired from the national team after two decades in which he restored his country to the elite of world football.

Scaloni's 28-man squad

Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martínez (Chelsea, ENG), Gerónimo Rulli (Manchester City, ENG), Juan Musso (Atlético Madrid, ESP) and Santiago Beltrán (River Plate, ARG).

Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate), Agustín Giay (Palmeiras, BRA), Aaron Anselmino (Chelsea, ENG), Mariano Troilo (Parma, ITA), Leonardo Balerdi (Roma, ITA), Lisandro Martínez (Manchester United, ENG), Facundo Medina (Bayer Leverkusen, GER), Nicolás Tagliafico (Olympique Lyon, FRA) and Román Vega (Zenit St Petersburg, RUS).

Midfielders: Ezequiel Fernández (Bayer Leverkusen, GER), Máximo Perrone (Como, ITA), Exequiel Palacios (Ipswich Town, ENG), Valentín Barco (Chelsea, ENG), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool, ENG), Enzo Fernández (Manchester City, ENG), Nicolás Paz (Como, ITA), Matías Soulé (Roma, ITA) and Franco Mastantuono (Fiorentina, ITA).

Forwards: Giuliano Simeone (Atlético Madrid, ESP), Gianluca Prestianni (Benfica, POR), Thiago Almada (River Plate), José López (Palmeiras, BRA), Santiago Castro (Roma, ITA) and Julián Álvarez (Atlético Madrid, ESP).