Lionel Messi among 3 MLS players on Argentina roster for September World Cup qualifiers

Lionel Messi is among three MLS players called into Argentina camp for the men’s national team’s September World Cup qualifiers, the federation announced Thursday. Here’s what you need to know:

The Inter Miami superstar is joined by FC Dallas winger Alan Velasco and Atlanta United midfielder Thiago Almada on coach Lionel Scaloni’s roster.
Argentina, the defending men’s World Cup champion, is scheduled to play Ecuador on Sept. 7 in Buenos Aires and Bolivia on Sept. 12 in La Paz.
The call-up is the first to the senior national team for Velasco, 21. Almada, 22, became the first active MLS player to win a FIFA World Cup last year; he has nine goals and 12 assists with Atlanta this season.

#SelecciónMayor 📋Lista de convocados por el entrenador Lionel Scaloni 🇦🇷 para los encuentros de Eliminatorias ante Ecuador y Bolivia
— 🇦🇷 Selección Argentina ⭐⭐⭐ (@Argentina) August 31, 2023

The Athletic’s instant analysis:

Significance of the call-ups

It’s big news for MLS clubs whenever just one representative of the league is included in the national team for a country like Argentina, let alone three.

Messi is the big name, of course, as the reigning World Cup champion and Golden Ball winner continues his international career.

Almada made the World Cup roster and is likely to be in Europe one day soon in a potential league-record transfer. Velasco is a surprise inclusion to the squad, with the talented Dallas youngster given a chance to impress Scaloni.

It’s a sign of the growth of the league — particularly the age profile of Almada (22) and Velasco (21).

As for their club teams, MLS is unique in that it doesn’t completely stop matches during international breaks. Miami has a game during the window where it will be without Messi (and the other international call-ups), though Dallas and Atlanta are off.

All three clubs are in the MLS playoff race, but Miami most desperately needs the points, sitting 10 points behind the playoff line with 10 games remaining. — Bogert

The ‘Messi effect’ in action

It may be unrelated, but it’s certainly no coincidence. Argentina’s national team has its eyes set on the U.S. The Argentina Football Association will soon plant its flag on U.S. soil with two training facilities in the Miami area. It’s a commercial expansion, but MLS, and its Argentine players, stand to benefit, as well. Messi’s presence in MLS has given the league the type of global visibility it has never had.

Almada was already a part of the national team project under Scaloni, but Velasco, who was highly regarded in Argentina before he joined FC Dallas, has used top performances in MLS to establish himself as part of Argentina’s future. — Cardenas

Backstory

The September international window is the first since Messi joined MLS and exponentially increased the global spotlight on the league. Two of his Inter Miami teammates, Drake Callender and Ben Cremaschi, were called up to the U.S. men’s national team roster Wednesday — Cremaschi, 18, for the first time.

Inter Miami coach Tata Martino said last week the team will be without Messi for “at least” three games this season while he plays for the national team.