Buenos Aires May 15 (IANS) Inter Milan captain Mauro Icardi and young Racing Club striker Lautaro Martinez were among 35 players named in Argentina s provisional World Cup squad.
Icardi who has played only four matches for his country since his debut in 2013 was on Monday rewarded for a superb 28-goal season in Italy s Serie A championship reports Xinua news agency.
Martinez 20 has netted 20 goals in 26 appearances across all competitions for Racing in 2017-18. The tally includes five in as many matches in the Copa Libertadores South America s top club competition.
As expected the Albiceleste squad includes FC Barcelona s five-time Ballon d Or winner Lionel Messi Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain Hebei China Fortune midfielder Javier Mascherano and Manchester United center-back Marcos Rojo.
AC Milan midfielder Lucas Biglia was named despite suffering a recent back injury.
There was also a spot for uncapped River Plate goalkeeper Franco Armani who joined the Buenos Aires club in January from Colombia s Atletico Nacional amid reports he could seek Colombian nationality.
Argentina coach Jorge Sampoli will trim his squad to 23 by June 4.
The two-time World Cup winners will begin their campaign in Russia against Iceland on June 16. They will also face Croatia and Nigeria in the group stage.
Argentina squad:
Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero Nahuel Guzman Willy Caballero Franco Armani.
Defenders: Gabriel Mercado Nicolas Otamendi Federico Fazio NicolAs Tagliafico Marcos Rojo Marcos Acuna Ramiro Funes Mori Cristian Ansaldi Eduardo Salvio German Pezzella.
Midfielders: Javier Mascherano Angel Di Maria Ever Banega Lucas Biglia Manuel Lanzini Gio Lo Celso Ricardo Centurion Guido Pizarro Leandro Paredes Maximiliano Meza Enzo Perez Pablo Perez Rodrigo Battaglia.
Forwards: Lionel Messi Sergio Aguero Gonzalo Higuain Paulo Dybala Mauro Icardi Cristian Pavon Lautaro Martinez Diego Perotti.

--IANS pur/vm