Messi and Mascherano called up by Argentina for friendlies in Asia

New Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella has on Thursday called up two different squads for a numer of friendlies taking place in September. One squad, of all home-based players, will play two friendlies against arch-rivals Brazil next month (that squad list can be found here). The other team, made up exclusively of Europe-based players and which includes FC Barcelona players Lionel Messi and Javier Mascherano, will play two friendlies in Asia, first against Venezuela in Kolkata, India on Sept. 2 and Nigeria in Dhaka, Bangladesh four days later (Sept. 6).

Sabella took over the job as Argentina national team coach two weeks ago, replacing Sergio Batista, who resigned after a disappointing Copa America, in which Argentina was knocked out on penalties in the quarter-finals to eventual winners Uruguay.

The complete 26 player squad for the Asia friendlies is as follows: Di María, Higuain (Real Madrid), Messi, Mascherano (Barcelona), Banega (Valencia), Salvio (Atlético Madrid), Demichelis (Málaga), Fernández (Nápoli), Álvarez (Internazionale), Burdisso (Roma), Andujar (Catania), Romero (Sampdoria), Garay (Benfica), Rinaudo (Sporting de Lisboa), Otamendi (Porto), Agüero, Zabaleta (Manchester City), Gutiérrez (Newcastle), Pastore (Paris Saint Germain), González (Olimpique de Marsella), López (Lyon), Ansaldi (Rubín Kazan), Pareja, Rojo (Spartak Moscú), Sosa (Metalist), Andrada (Lanús).

As for other call-ups, both Dani Alves and Adriano have been summoned by Brazil for next month’s friendly against Ghana in England at Craven Cottage. Ex-Barça star Ronaldinho has also been featured on Mano Menezes’ list.

Brazil Squad: Julio Cesar (Inter Milan), Jefferson (Botafogo), Fabio (Cruzeiro); Lucio (Inter Milan), Thiago Silva (AC Milan), Dede (Vasco), D Luiz (Chelsea), D Alves (Barcelona), Danilo (Santos), Marcelo (Real Madrid); Adriano (Barcelona), Lucas Leiva (Liverpool), L Gustavo (Bayern Munich), Ralf (Corinthians), Elias (Atletico Madrid), Fernandinho (Shakhtar Donetsk), PH Ganso (Santos), Lucas (Sao Paulo); Ronaldinho (Flamengo), Robinho (AC Milan), A Pato (AC Milan), Hulk (Porto), L Damiao (Internacional), Neymar (Santos).

Messi, Cesc and Piqué together again

Argentinian journalist Jorge López, from Diario Olé, remembered his visit to FC Barcelona’s youth academy, La Masía, in 2003. Back then the club’s Cadete B team were up against Espanyol in their quest to win the league. Lionel Messi, Cesc Fàbregas and Gerard Piqué were part of that squad. López was watching the game as he had heard of the genius of Messi, but Messi was kicked by a rival and ended up with his cheekbone broken.  He nearly passed out and a kid named Cesc Fàbregas came in to replace him.

Following the game, López learned that both teams would face each other again, this time for the title of Copa Catalunya. Messi was told he couldn’t play for three weeks. But 15-year-old Messi went up to his coach and requested that he be allowed to play the game. And so he did, only a week after having his cheekbone broken: he wore a mask (seen in the picture) that was handed over to him by Puyol, who had been suffering from a similar injury. But the mask was too big for Messi, and he couldn’t see very well. So he took it off and kept on playing. He scored two goals in five minutes and the third one was scored by Piqué. That team, called the Dream Team, won three titles that year and didn’t lose a single point.

But before any of the three could be promoted, Fabregas moved to London, Piqué to Manchester and Messi stayed on, probably convinced of being reunited with them some day. Nine years later, the players, who played in their early teens for Barca, were reunited and celebrated together their first title, the Spanish Super Cup, against Madrid.

Messi married?

According to Marcelo Araujo, a sports journalist from Argentina, Lionel Messi got married this summer!

Araujo, who is renowned in Argentina as a football commentator and director of TV sports shows revealed some details on his twitter @araujodeprimera. He states that when vacationing in Ibiza, Messi got married to his long time girlfriend, Antonella Rocuzzo. Araujo also says Messi’s cousin and Dani Alves were among the very short guest list. Lio took a few days off in Ibiza after finishing his holidays in Argentina and right before joining Barca’s preseason. A few photos of Lio and Antonella while on vacation showed them wearing what appeared to be engagement rings.

Even if it is only a rumour, it seems to have come from a realiable source. Araujo claims that “if this is false, I will shut down my account”. Until a couple of minutes ago, his account still exists. The claims about Messi’s marriage have been refuted by Messi’s family according to Spanish daily Sport.