SAINTS attacking midfielder Charly Alcaraz has been called up to the Argentina national team for the first time.

The 20 year old has been selected for the current World Cup winners alongside the likes of football icon Lionel Messi.

Argentina are set to face Paraguay and Peru in World Cup qualifying on October 13 and October 18 respectively.

Alcaraz, who has started the last two games for Russell Martin’s Saints, is looking for his first goal of the season after netting four in the Premier League between January and May.

Argentina have won their first two matches of qualifying for the 2026 tournament without conceding a goal, beating Bolivia 3-0 and Ecuador 1-0 in September. 

Coach Lionel Scaloni has selected 34 players for the upcoming international camp and is unlikely to use all of them in just two matches. 

Argentina's full squad: 

Emi Martinez, Franco Armani, Juan Musso, Walter Benitez, Juan Foyth, Gonzalo Montiel, Nahuel Molina, German Pezzella, Cristian Romero, Lucas Martinez Quarta, Nicolas Otamendi, Marco Pellegrino, Marcos Acuna, Nicolas Tagliafico, Lucas Esquivel, Leandro Paredes, Guido Rodriguez, Enzo Fernandez, Rodrigo De Paul, Exequiel Palacios, Charly Alcaraz, Giovani Lo Celso, Alexis Mac Allister, Thiago Almada, Bruno Zapelli, Paulo Dybala, Lionel Messi, Julian Alvarez, Lautaro Martinez, Facundo Farios, Lucas Beltran, Alejandro Garnacho, Nicolas Gonzalez, Lucas Ocampos. 

More to follow…