Argentina Calls Up Palmeiras Striker José Manuel "Flaco" López for World Cup Qualifiers

Argentina has bolstered its national team squad with the inclusion of Palmeiras striker José Manuel "Flaco" López for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Ecuador. The 38-year-old captain Lionel Messi will lead the team, which also features several young talents, including Real Madrid's recent signing Franco Mastantuono and Manchester City's Claudio Echeverri.

López, who joined Palmeiras in 2022 from Lanús, has caught the eye of coach Lionel Scaloni with his impressive goal-scoring record, having netted 15 times in 42 matches this year. The tall, 1.9-meter center forward will be making his first appearance for the Argentina national team.

Argentina has already secured a spot for the 2026 World Cup and currently leads the South American qualifying standings. The team will host Venezuela on September 4th at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires and then travel to Guayaquil to face Ecuador on September 9th for the final doubleheader of the competition.