Messi has been struggling with an injury and was forced to leave the field during a match in Major League Soccer (MLS) a few days ago. Coach Scaloni has downplayed the severity of the injury this week.
Centre-back Cristian Romero also made the squad. The Tottenham defender suffered a knee injury last month and has not played since.
This will be Messi's sixth World Cup. Four years ago in Qatar, Argentina won gold.
Argentina will face Algeria in the World Cup opener on June 17.
Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa), Gerónimo Rulli (Olympique de Marseille), Juan Musso (Atlético Madrid).
Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate), Nahuel Molina (Atlético Madrid), Lisandro Martínez (Manchester United), Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica), Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique de Marseille), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), Nicolás Tagliafico (Lyon), Facundo Medina (Olympique de Marseille).
Midfielders: Giovani Lo Celso (Betis), Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors), Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Enzo Fernández (Chelsea), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Valentín Barco (RC Strasbourg Alsace).
Forwards: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Nicolás González (Atlético Madrid), Giuliano Simeone (Atlético Madrid), Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan), José Manuel López (Palmeiras), Julián Álvarez (Atlético Madrid), Thiago Almada (Lyon), Nico Paz (Como).
