- UK growth slows in third quarter, dealing blow to Labour government
- Chris Wood hits quickfire double in NZ World Cup qualifying romp
- Markets struggle at end of tough week
- China tests building Moon base with lunar soil bricks
- Film's 'search for Palestine' takes centre stage at Cairo festival
- Oil execs work COP29 as NGOs slam lobbyist presence
- Gore says climate progress 'won't slow much' because of Trump
- 'Megaquake' warning hits Japan's growth
- Stiff business: Berlin startup will freeze your corpse for monthly fee
- Wars, looming Trump reign set to dominate G20 summit
- Xi, Biden attend Asia-Pacific summit, prepare to meet
- Kyrgios to make competitive return at Brisbane next month after injuries
- Dominican Juan Luis Guerra triumphs at 25th annual Latin Grammys
- Landslide win for Sri Lanka president's leftist coalition in snap polls
- Australian World Cup penalty hero Vine takes mental health break
- As Philippines picks up from Usagi, a fresh storm bears down
- Tropical Storm Sara pounds Honduras with heavy rain
- Pepi gives Pochettino win for USA in Jamaica
- 'Hell to heaven' as China reignite World Cup hopes with late winner
- Rebel attacks keep Indian-run Kashmir on the boil
- New Zealand challenge 'immense but fantastic' for France
- Under pressure England boss Borthwick in Springboks' spotlight
- All Blacks plan to nullify 'freakish' Dupont, says Lienert-Brown
- TikTok makes AI driven ad tool available globally
- Japan growth slows as new PM readies stimulus
- China retail sales pick up speed, beat forecasts in October
- Asian markets fluctuate at end of tough week
- Gay, trans people voicing -- and sometimes screaming -- Trump concerns
- Argentina fall in Paraguay, Brazil held in Venezuela
- N. Korean leader orders 'mass production' of attack drones
- Pakistan's policies hazy as it fights smog
- Nature pays price for war in Israel's north
- New Zealand's prolific Williamson back for England Test series
- Mexico City youth grapple with growing housing crisis
- After Trump's victory, US election falsehoods shift left
- Cracks deepen in Canada's pro-immigration 'consensus'
- Xi inaugurates South America's first Chinese-funded port in Peru
- Tyson slaps Paul in final face-off before Netflix bout
- England wrap-up T20 series win over West Indies
- Stewards intervene to stop Israel, France football fans clash at Paris match
- Special counsel hits pause on Trump documents case
- Japan's Princess Mikasa, great aunt to emperor, dies aged 101
- Cricket at 2028 Olympics could be held outside Los Angeles
- Trump names vaccine skeptic RFK Jr. to head health dept
- Ye claims 'Jews' controlling Kardashian clan: lawsuit
- Japan into BJK Cup quarter-finals as Slovakia stun USA
- Sri Lanka president's party headed for landslide: early results
- Olympics 'above politics' say LA 2028 organisers after Trump win
- Panic strikes Port-au-Prince as residents flee gang violence
- Carsley hails England's strength in depth as understudies sink Greece
RBGPF | 100% | 61.84 | $ | |
CMSC | -0.24% | 24.55 | $ | |
SCS | -0.75% | 13.27 | $ | |
RYCEF | -4.71% | 6.79 | $ | |
NGG | 0.4% | 62.37 | $ | |
CMSD | -0.02% | 24.725 | $ | |
GSK | -2.09% | 34.39 | $ | |
BCC | -1.57% | 140.35 | $ | |
AZN | -0.38% | 65.04 | $ | |
RELX | -0.37% | 45.95 | $ | |
RIO | -0.31% | 60.43 | $ | |
BCE | -1.38% | 26.84 | $ | |
JRI | -0.23% | 13.21 | $ | |
BTI | 0.2% | 35.49 | $ | |
VOD | -0.81% | 8.68 | $ | |
BP | 1.65% | 29.05 | $ |
Argentina rest Messi for World Cup qualifiers
Paris Saint-Germain star Lionel Messi, who recently recovered from a Covid-19 infection, was on Wednesday left out of Argentina's squad for World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Colombia, with the twice former winners already qualified for Qatar 2022.
Argentina will play Chile in Santiago on January 27 and Colombia at home on February 1 with both opponents still in contention to qualify for the tournament.
Messi contracted the virus whilst on holiday in his hometown of Rosario in Argentina in December.
On January 5, PSG announced that Messi, who joined them from Barcelona last year, was back in France after testing negative.
This week, the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner and Argentina captain was back in full training for the French club.
He missed the French Cup match against Vannes and two league games, the 1-1 draw with Lyon and last Saturday's 2-0 defeat of Brest.
In all, Messi has missed 10 league matches since his arrival at PSG in August, and will make his first appearance of 2022 on Sunday against Reims.
Messi is the only one of his fellow Argentine PSG team mates not to be called up for the qualifiers, with winger Angel Di Maria and midfielder Leandro Paredes among the squad announced by coach Lionel Scaloni.
There were few changes to the 27-strong squad, with Christian Romero of Tottenham out injured, and only two Argentine club players, both from River Plate: veteran goalkeeper Franco Armani and forward Julian Alvarez, who was voted the South American Footballer of the year in 2021.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Franco Armani (River Plate), Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa/ENG), Juan Musso (Atalanta/ITA), Esteban Andrada (Monterrey/MEX)
Defenders: Nahuel Molina (Udinese/ITA), Gonzalo Montiel (Sevilla/ESP), German Pezzella (Real Betis/ESP), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica/POR), Lisandro Martinez (Ajax/NED), Lucas Martinez Quarta (Fiorentina/ITA), Nicolas Tagliafico (Ajax/NED), Marcos Acuna (Sevilla/ESP)
Midfielders: Lucas Ocampo (Sevilla/ESP), Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Leandro Paredes (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Guido Rodriguez (Real Betis/SPA), Giovanni Lo Celso (Tottenham/ENG), Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton/ENG), Emiliano Buendia (Aston Villa/ENG), Alejandro Gomez (Sevilla/ESP)
Forwards: Nicolas Gonzalez (Fiorentina/ITA), Angel Di Maria (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Angel Correa (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan/ITA), Julian Alvarez (River Plate), Joaquin Correa (Inter Milan/ITA)
T.Sanchez--AT