Lionel Messi has controversially joined up with the Argentina squad for their November fixtures despite recently being absent for Paris Saint-Germain due to knee and hamstring pain.

The 34-year-old is seemingly in line to feature against Uruguay on Friday, but it would be a huge surprise to see him in the starting XI, with an appearance against Brazil on November 16 more likely.

As a result, there should be a spot open in the final third of the field, and Paulo Dybala could be handed his 31st international cap alongside Lautaro Martinez and Angel Di Maria as a front three.

Only Messi (80) and Di Maria (21) have scored more goals in the current Argentina squad than Martinez (17), and the Inter Milan forward netted the winner against Peru in the team's last World Cup 2022 qualifier.

There are not expected to be any major surprises in the away team's XI, although there could be a change in midfield, with Guido Rodriguez potentially coming in for Giovani Lo Celso.

Nicolas Otamendi is set to be joined in the middle of the defence by Cristian Romero, while Nahuel Molina and Marcos Acuna should retain their spots in the full-back areas.

Emiliano Martinez is now Argentina's number one goalkeeper, and the 29-year-old should earn his 13th international cap in this fixture.

Argentina possible starting lineup: Martinez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Acuna; De Paul, Paredes, Rodriguez; Dybala, L Martinez, Di Maria body check tags ::