Leo Messi and Javier Mascherano picked for Argentina

FC Barcelona’s Leo Messi and Javier Mascherano have been named in Argentina manager Gerardo Martino’s squad of 29 for two World Cup qualifiers later this month.

The 2014 finalists will travel to Copa American champions Chile on March 24 and are then at home to Bolivia in Cordoba on March 29.

With just one win from their first four matches, Argentina are currently sixth in the Conmebol qualifying table, which as things stand would not be enough to win a place at Russia 2018. But there are still 14 games to go, and a 1-0 win in Colombia in the last round of matches has set their campaign back on track after a slow start.