Messi, Tevez headline Copa America squad

Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez have been named in the final 23-man squad for Argentina’s Copa America campaign on home soil.

Argentina coach Sergio Batista dropped a trio of home-based players from his provisional squad for the tournament, which gets underway on Friday.

Boca Juniors defender Luciano Monzon, Lanus midfielder Diego Valeri and Estudiantes winger Enzo Perez are all omitted, making River Plate goalkeeper Juan Pablo Carrizo the only squad member to have played football in Argentina this season.

Manchester City striker Tevez, whose participation in the Copa America seemed unlikely following a spat with Batista late last year, will line up in a fearsome partnership with Barcelona superstar Messi.

Tevez was the joint top scorer in the English Premier League last season, while Messi scored 53 goals in all competitions on his way to a La Liga-Champions League double with the Catalan giants.

Batista’s embarrassment of riches in the front third also includes Sergio Aguero of Atletico Madrid, Diego Milito of Inter Milan and Real Madrid’s Gonzalo Higuain.

Argentina warmed up for the Copa America with a 4-0 thrashing of Albania last Monday, with Messi, Aguero, Tevez and Napoli striker Ezequiel Lavezzi all scoring at the Monumental.

Argetina, favourites to secure their 15th Copa America title on home soil, kick off the tournament against Group A rivals Bolivia in La Plata on Friday.

Argentina squad:

Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar), Mariano Andujar (Catania), Juan Pablo Carrizo (River Plate)

Defenders: Javier Zanetti (Inter Milan), Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City), Nicolas Burdisso (AS Roma), Nicolas Pareja, Marcos Rojo (both Spartak Moscow), Gabriel Milito (Barcelona), Ezequiel Garay (Real Madrid)

Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Barcelona), Esteban Cambiasso (Inter Milan), Lucas Biglia (Anderlecht), Ever Banega (Valencia), Fernando Gago, Angel Di Maria (both Real Madrid), Javier Pastore (Palermo)

Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid), Carlos Tevez (Manchester City), Diego Milito (Inter Milan), Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli).