In-form Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi will have to watch the 2018 FIFA World Cup from his living room after being excluded from Argentina’s final 23-man squad for Russia.

Icardi, who scored yesterday to lift Inter to a come from behind 3-2 win over Lazio to earn a Champions League berth, was the top marksman in Serie A with 29 goals.

However, he was overlooked by Albiceleste coach Jorge Sampaoli who instead elected to take just two specialist centre-forwards in Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain and recovering Manchester City star Sergio Aguero.

Mauro Icardi

The forward line-up is completed by captain Lionel Messi, Paulo Dybala and 22-year-old boca juniors winger Cristian Pavon.

The squad, that features just 8 returning members from the team that lost to Germany in the 2014 final, includes the likes of Angel Di Maria, Javier Mascherano, Nicolas Otamendi and the Manchester United pair of Marcos Rojo and Sergio Romero.

Argentina, the seeded team in Group D, will take on Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria.

Argentina’s World Cup squad:

Goalkeepers:  Sergio Romero (Manchester United), Willy Caballero (Manchester City), Franco Armani (River Plate).

Defenders: Gabriel Mercado (Sevilla), Cristian Ansaldi (Torino), Nicolas Otamendi (Man City), Federico Fazio (Roma), Marcos Rojo (Man United), Nicolas Tagliafico (Ajax), Marcos Acuna (Sporting), Eduardo Salvio (Benfica).

Midfielders:  Javier Mascherano (Hebei), Lucas Biglia (Milan), Ever Banega (Sevilla), Giovani Lo Celso (PSG), Manuel Lanzini (West Ham), Angel Di Maria (PSG), Maxi Meza (Independiente).

Forwards:  Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Paulo Dybala (Juventus), Sergio Aguero (Man City), Gonzalo Higuain (Juventus), Cristian Pavon (Boca Juniors).