LIONEL MESSI led Argentina training as Jorge Sampaoli’s side prepared for their crunch World Cup qualifiers.
Sergio Aguero, Paulo Dybala, Mauro Icardi and Angel Di Maria were among the other big names staying sharp at the session in capital city Buenos Aires.
Messi, whose Barcelona side are going through a tough time despite the recent acquisition of Ousmane Dembele, was at one point seen deep in conversation with boss Sampaoli.
Aguero also looked keen to get in on the action just two days after coming off the bench for Manchester City’s last-gasp win over Bournemouth.
The Etihad striker had faced a police probe after a steward alleged he hit him – but Aguero was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing.
He will be hoping to make the 1986 World Cup winners’ progression to Russia a formality.
Argentina face an uphill battle as they currently sit fifth in the South American qualification group.
They have four games left – the first of which will be against Uruguay on Friday.
A home fixture against Venezuela next Wednesday then follows.
As it stands, Argentina would enter an intercontinental play-off against the winner of the Oceania region of qualifying, which is likely to be New Zealand.
Conspicuous by his absence was Juventus forward Gonzalo Higuain.
West Ham midfielder Manuel Lanzini was forced to withdraw through injury.
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