Three new faces in Argentina squad for Angola friendly

Bangla Press Desk:  World champions Argentina have announced their squad for the upcoming international friendly against Angola, featuring three exciting new additions as coach Lionel Scaloni continues to fine-tune his team ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The reigning champions will train in Spain before traveling to Luanda for the November 14 match, which marks Angola’s 50th Independence anniversary. The Angolan government reportedly paid around €12 millionto host the historic fixture.

Among the 24 players named, Scaloni has handed first-time call-ups to Joaquín Panichelli, Gianluca Prestianni, and Máximo Perrone, while young full-back Valentín Barco returns to the national fold. Regular goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez has been rested for this tour.

Panichelli, a 23-year-old forward from Córdoba, currently plays for Racing Club de Strasbourg in France. The 6’2” striker has been in prolific form, netting nine goals in just 11 Ligue 1 appearances and scoring on his Europa Conference League debut. 

Prestianni, a promising winger from Benfica, was one of Argentina’s standout performers at the 2023 U-20 World Cup. Perrone, meanwhile, continues to develop in Italy with Como 1907 after earlier spells at Manchester City and Las Palmas.

Scaloni’s blend of youth and experience suggests a clear strategy: maintain the team’s winning chemistry while testing emerging talent on the international stage.
Argentina will look to close out the year on a high as they prepare for a busy 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign beginning next spring.

Argentina Squad for Angola Friendly:

Goalkeepers: Gerónimo Rulli (Olympique de Marseille), Walter Benítez (Crystal Palace)

Defenders: Nahuel Molina (Atlético de Madrid), Juan Foyth (Villarreal), Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur), Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica), Marcos Senesi (AFC Bournemouth), Nicolás Tagliafico (Olympique Lyon), Valentín Barco (Racing Club de Estrasburgo)

Midfielders: Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Máximo Perrone (Como 1907), Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami), Enzo Fernández (Chelsea), Thiago Almada (Atlético de Madrid), Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis), Nicolás Paz (Como 1907)

Forwards: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Giuliano Simeone (Atlético de Madrid), Gianluca Prestianni (Benfica), Nicolás González (Atlético de Madrid), Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan), José Manuel López (Palmeiras), Julián Álvarez (Atlético de Madrid), Joaquín Panichelli (Racing Club de Estrasburgo)

BP/SP