Messi’s Argentina to face Neymar’s Brazil in qualifier

Paris Saint-Germain’s Lionel Messi (left) and Neymar. (AFP)

Superstar Lionel Messi was called up yesterday to the Argentina squad due to face his new Paris Saint-Germain teammate Neymar and Brazil in a World Cup qualifier next month.The crunch CONMEBOL encounter on September 5 will mark the first time the two icons face each other as PSG teammates, and will come less than two months after Messi inspired Argentina to a 1-0 victory over Brazil in the Copa America final.The highly-anticipated encounter is sandwiched between two other World Cup qualifiers, with Argentina playing Venezuela on September 2 and Bolivia a week later.Brazil lead the single CONMEBOL qualifying group with a perfect 18 points from six matches, while Argentina are second with 12 points and also unbeaten.Messi won his first international trophy in July as he helped Argentina end a 27-year wait for major silverware by upsetting Brazil at Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Maracana stadium.The two countries’ star players are yet to play alongside each other this season as both have been given an extended break by PSG following their Copa exertions.After more than two decades playing at Barcelona, Messi is widely expected to make his PSG debut this weekend away to Reims.Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni sprung no surprises in his squad with Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez and Paulo Dybala of Juventus included among powerful-looking forward options, although new Barca signing Sergio Aguero misses out through injury.Two other PSG players, Angel Di Maria, who scored the winner in the Copa America final, and Leandro Paredes are in the squad.PSG defender Marquinhos will join Neymar in the Brazil squad.