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Lionel Messi has been called up by new Argentina coach Gerardo Martino for the first time for the World Cup finalists' two friendlies against Brazil and Hong Kong next month, but striker Carlos Tevez has not received his anticipated recall. Messi, 27, captained Argentina to the World Cup final last summer and won the Golden Ball award as the tournament's best player, but missed the rematch against world champions Germany in Dusseldorf earlier in September through injury. The Albiceleste won that friendly 4-2 in what was the first match in charge for Martino, Messi's former coach at Barcelona. However, despite stating last week that he was considering ending Tevez's three-year international exile, Martino did not name the Juventus striker in his 19-man squad for the match against Brazil in Beijing on Oct. 10 and the visit to Hong Kong four days later. The 30-year-old has not represented Argentina since July of 2011 when he missed a decisive penalty in a shootout that Uruguay won 5-4 on penalties to reach the last four of the Copa America. Alejandro Sabella, who took over the reins of the Albiceleste after that tournament, resigned his post after the World Cup, with Martino his successor. Tevez led Juventus last season to the Italian league title as the club and Serie A's top scorer with 19 goals. On Saturday, Tevez's fourth goal in three matches helped Juventus win 1-0 at AC Milan. He also scored in a 2-0 win over Udinese the previous weekend, then produced both goals in a 2-0 victory over Malmo in the Champions League last Tuesday. "Tevez is doing his job well on the field," Martino told ESPN. "As 'Carlitos' had said in an interview -- he is working hard in order to be selected." Martino added that while no one in the Argentine camp had spoken to him directly about Tevez, it was clear that the players would welcome the Juve striker back into the Argentina set-up. "In Germany [at Argentina's recent friendly] I was able to corroborate what Messi and [vice-captain Javier] Mascherano told me in Barcelona about how good the team was together -- solid and well-functioning. "We never discussed a situation in which we as a group would discuss the Tevez case. I asked in general on the first day if there were any problems with any player in particular and they told me no. "We need to take advantage of this period of friendlies to play better and also to take a look at new players who have had good performances but have not had the opportunities." Argentina squad Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (Sampdoria), Nahuel Guzman (Tigres UANL) Defenders: Mateo Musacchio (Villarreal), Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City), Martin Demichelis (Manchester City), Marcos Rojo (Manchester United), Santiago Vergini (Sunderland), Federico Fernandez (Swansea) Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Barcelona), Lucas Biglia (Lazio), Javier Pastore (PSG), Roberto Pereyra (Juventus), Angel Di Maria (Manchester United), Erik Lamela (Tottenham), Enzo Perez (Benfica), Nicolas Gaitan (Benfica) Strikers: Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Sergio Agüero (Manchester City), Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli).
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