7M - Argentina Seeks Balerdi Replacement Following World Cup Injury

Argentina has suffered a major setback just before the FIFA World Cup 2026 as center back Leonardo Balerdi has been officially ruled out of the tournament. The Argentine Football Association confirmed that the Olympique de Marseille defender sustained a muscle injury to the soleus in his right leg during their training camp in Texas. Having already dealt with muscular issues in previous weeks, the coaching staff determined that keeping him in the squad posed too high a risk.

To fill the defensive vacancy, head coach Lionel Scaloni will select a replacement from Argentina's initial 55-player provisional list. Five center backs are currently in contention for the spot: Marcos Senesi of Bournemouth, Lucas Martinez Quarta and German Pezzella both from River Plate, Zaid Romero of Getafe, and Boca Juniors youth player Lautaro Di Lollo. Scaloni plans to finalize his selection following an upcoming friendly against Honduras.

Beyond Balerdi, Argentina is managing several other fitness concerns. Nahuel Molina, Gonzalo Montiel, and Nicolas Paz are on personalized training schedules, while stars Emiliano Martinez, Lionel Messi, and Julian Alvarez continue their respective recovery programs. After playing Honduras in Texas, the squad will travel to Alabama for a final warm-up match against Iceland. The current world champions will start their title defense on June 16 against Algeria in Group J, a group that also features Austria and Jordan.