Argentina squad for October friendlies: Lautaro Rivero & Anibal Moreno earn debut call-ups | OneFootball

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has selected his squad for the upcoming friendlies against Venezuela and Puerto Rico in the United States.

Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister and Julian Alvarez are among the players included in the squad.

Scaloni has handed call-ups to River Plate centre-back Lautaro Rivero, Palmeiras midfielder Anibal Moreno and Racing Club goalkeeper Facundo Cambeses.

After an impressive loan stint at Central Cordoba, Rivero has established himself as a key member of River Plate’s defence after making his debut against Independiente in August.

The 21-year-old produced a solid performance in the recent win against Palmeiras in the Copa Argentina quarter-finals.

The call-up to the national team will be an inspiring moment for Rivero, who has had a tough childhood, which forced him to sell food on the streets until a few years before River Plate snapped him up.

Moreno made four appearances in the Club World Cup earlier this summer, helping Palmeiras reach the quarter-finals.

The 26-year-old has also featured in 18 Brasileiro Serie A games this season. Palmeiras are second in the table, three points behind Flamengo.

Como’s Nico Paz and Real Madrid’s Franco Mastantuono are two exciting players to watch out for in the squad after enjoying an impressive start to the 2025/26 season.

Paz, who was Serie A’s best under-23 player last season, has continued his excellent run of form, bagging three goals and three assists in the five league games.

Mastantuono has hit the ground running at Madrid, scoring against Levente and providing an assist in the Champions League game against Kairat Almaty earlier this week.

Argentina squad

Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Gerónimo Rulli (Olympique Marseille), Walter Benitez (Crystal Palace), Facundo Cambeses (Racing Club).

Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid), Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur), Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique Marseille), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth), Lautaro Rivero (River Plate), Marcos Acuna (River Plate), Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon).

Midfielders: Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors), Anibal Moreno (Palmeiras), Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea), Nico Paz (Como), Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool).

Forwards: Thiago Almada (Atletico Madrid), Giuliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid), Nicolas Gonzalez (Atletico Madrid), Franco Mastantuono (Real Madrid), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Juan Manuel Lopez (Palmeiras), Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan).