Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Co train as Argentina bid to rescue their World Cup qualifying campaign

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Lionel Messi and his Argentina team-mates were put through their paces in Buenos Aires on Monday as they trained ahead of a crucial pair of World Cup qualifiers. 

Messi joined the likes of Sergio Aguero, Mauro Icardi, Paulo Dybala and Angel di Maria in preparation for the upcoming matches against Uruguay and Venezuela.

The Barcelona talisman looked focused during the session as he performed a series of drills and was spotted in deep discussion with his manager Jorge Sampaoli.

Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero compete for possession during the Argentina training session

Messi spoke with manager Jorge Sampaoli as they prepared for the match against Uruguay

Aguero was also in the thick of the action, two days after coming off the bench for Manchester City in their late victory over Bournemouth.

Argentina face a battle to qualify for Russia 2018 - they currently sit fifth in the South American qualification group with just four games remaining. 

As it stands they would enter an intercontinental playoff match against the winner of the Oceania region of qualifying, likely to be New Zealand.

Sampaoli has a star-studded squad to choose from in the upcoming matches, though he surprisingly omitted Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain from his selection.

Barcelona's Javier Mascherano competes with Paris Saint-Germain winger Angel di Maria

Messi scored twice and missed a penalty for Barcelona in their win over Alaves on Saturday

Juventus star Paulo Dybala has made the squad but his team-mate Gonzalo Higuain misses out

West Ham midfielder Manuel Lanzini was forced to withdraw through injury but City defender Nicolas Otamendi and Manchester United goalkeeper Sergio Romero join Aguero as the three Premier League stars involved.

Argentina face a tough-looking trip to Montevideo on Thursday night to take on Uruguay before they host Venezuela in Buenos Aires five days later.

Maverick tactician Sampaoli fielded a remarkable 2-3-5 formation in Argentina's 6-0 friendly victory over Singapore last time out.

Inter Milan forward Mauro Icardi has been included for the first time since his debut in 2013

Icardi and Messi face a battle to make it for Russia as they sit fifth in their qualifying group

Messi stretches off during Monday's Argentina training session Lanus striker Lautaro Acosta

And with such an array of attacking options to choose from the former Sevilla boss could be tempted to try something similar against Uruguay - with the likes of Messi, Aguero, Icardi, Dybala, Di Maria and Joaquin Correa all included in his latest squad.

They are currently one point behind fourth-placed Chile in the group - who were controversially awarded three points after Bolivia were found guilty of fielding an ineligible player against them in a 0-0 draw back in September.

Brazil sit nine points clear at the top of the group, ahead of Colombia and Uruguay who are second and third respectively. 

Two-time champions Argentina last failed to qualify for a World Cup in 1970 - they were the runners-up in 2014 after losing 1-0 to Germany in the final.

Argentina find themselves a point behind fourth-placed Chile with just four games remaining

Former Sevilla manager Sampaoli fielded an insanely attacking 2-3-5 formation last time out