Messi spearheads Argentina's Copa América defence

Lionel Messi will spearhead Argentina's Copa America title defence in the United States later this month.

Manager Lionel Scaloni said on Saturday he was relying on a squad brimming with the experience of the likes of Miami-based Messi and Benfica's Angel Di Maria with the freshness of youth.

World Cup champions Argentina begin their Copa defence against Canada on June 20 in Atlanta. They then face Chile on June 25 and Peru five days later.

Joining the thirty-something veterans in Scaloni's 26-player squad are Manchester United teenager Alejandro Garnacho and Valentin Carboni of Italian side Monza.

Scaloni has elected not to call up either Argentina's World Cup champions Paulo Dybala, the 30-year-old captain of Serie A's Roma, Atlético Madrid defender Ángel Correa, 29, Marseille defender Lucas Balerdi or Brighton full back Valentín Barco.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa/ENG), Franco Armani (River Plate),Gerónimo Rulli (Ajax/NED)

Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel (Nottingham Forest/ENG), Nahuel Molina (Atlético Madrid/ESP), Nicolás Tagliafico (Lyon/FRA), Marcos Acuña (Sevilla/ESP), Cristian Romero (Tottenham/ENG), Germán Pezzella (Real Betis/ESP), Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica/POR), Lucas Martínez Quarta (Fiorentina/ITA), Lisandro Martínez (Manchester United/ENG)

Midfielders: Guido Rodríguez (Real Betis/ESP), Leandro Paredes (Roma/ITA), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool/ENG), Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Enzo Fernández (Chelsea/ENG), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen/GER), Giovani Lo Celso (Totthenham/ENG)

Forwards: Ángel Di Maria (Benfica/POR), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami/USA), Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan/ITA), Julián Álvarez (Manchester City/ENG), Valentín Carboni (Monza/ITA), Nicolás González (Fiorentina/ITA), Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United/ENG).