Lionel Messi was named in the Argentina squad Thursday for the first time since the World Cup, ending a self-imposed eight month exile. Interim coach Lionel Scaloni named the five-time world player of the year in his squad for this month's friendlies against Venezuela and Morocco. The 31-year-old Barcelona star hasn't pulled on the light blue and white national team jersey since Argentina were dumped out of the World Cup last June by eventual winners France.

Another long-term absentee, PSG's Angel Di Maria, also makes the squad, but there is no place for other veterans Sergio Aguero -- despite his sparkling form for Manchester City -- Chelsea's Gonzalo Higuain or Mauro Icardi of Inter Milan. "The World Cup was a big disappointment for everyone, for him even more so," Scaloni told reporters at Argentina's Ezeiza training center outside Buenos Aires. "And then in the friendlies he saw us play, he liked it, and he wants to try again, and he's welcome." Scaloni said "Messi prefers to come than to rest," despite the demands of a heavy fixture list for his club.