Overview
- The Argentine Football Association confirmed that centre-back Leonardo Balerdi has been ruled out of the 2026 World Cup with a right-leg soleus muscle injury.
- Lionel Scaloni said he will finalise the replacement by Wednesday, June 10, after using the remaining warm-up fixtures to assess player fitness.
- Scaloni has opened the search beyond a like-for-like right-sided centre-back because Argentina’s defensive depth gives him flexibility in squad makeup.
- ESPN Argentina reporting names Valencia’s Guido Rodríguez as the current frontrunner while Emiliano Buendía has been asked to delay his holiday and remains on standby after a strong season for Aston Villa.
- The choice will directly affect Argentina’s tactical balance by either adding a holding midfielder to protect an injured Paredes or reinforcing central defence, and an official AFA announcement is expected once Scaloni decides.