BUENOS AIRES, September 23- Argentina captain Lionel Messi was called up Monday by new coach Gerardo Martino for friendlies against Brazil and Hong Kong but Juventus striker Carlos Tevez was snubbed again.
Messi, 27, returns for the Albiceleste after a groin injury saw him miss out on his former Barcelona coach Martino’s debut in a 4-2 friendly win against world champions Germany.
Tevez was absent from the 19-man squad named Monday despite earlier press reports that he was set to return after three years in the international wilderness.
The 30-year-old striker was shunned by former coach Alejandro Sabella but his successor was reported to be keen to see the 30-year-old forward return.
Tevez scored 13 goals in 64 matches for Argentina between 2004 and 2011 before being frozen out.
He won Premier League titles with United in 2008 and 2009 as well as the Champions League in 2008 before adding a third English title with City in 2012.
His current club Juventus won the Serie A crown last season while in 2003 he lifted the Copa Libertadores with Boca Juniors.
The Buenos Aires native is also a three-time South American player of the year (2003, 2004, 2005).
Martino took over from Sabella who stepped down after leading the two-time global champions to the 2014 World Cup final where they were beaten 1-0 by Germany after extra-time.
Argentina play Brazil in Beijing on October 10 and at Hong Kong four days later.
Argentina 19-man squad
Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (Sampdoria/ITA) Nahuel Guzman (Tigres UANL)
Defenders: Mateo Musacchio (Villarreal/ESP), Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City/ENG), Martin Demichelis (Manchester City/ENG), Marcos Rojo (Manchester United/ENG), Santiago Vergini (Sunderland/ENG), Federico Fernandez (Swansea/ENG)
Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Barcelona/ESP), Lucas Biglia (Lazio/ITA), Javier Pastore (PSG/FRA), Roberto Pereyra (Juventus/ITA), Angel Di Maria (Manchester United/ENG), Erik Lamela (Tottenham/ENG), Enzo Perez (Benfica/POR), Nicolas Gaitan (Benfica/POR)
Strikers: Lionel Messi (Barcelona/ESP), Sergio Agüero (Manchester City/ENG), Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli/ITA).
