Argentina’s injury concerns ahead of the 2026 World Cup have worsened after defender Leonardo Balerdi was ruled out of the tournament with a calf injury, the reigning champions confirmed on Saturday.
The 27-year-old centre-back suffered a muscle injury to the soleus of his right leg, cutting short what would have been his first World Cup appearance. Balerdi had earned his place in Lionel Scaloni’s 26-man squad on the back of a strong season with Olympique de Marseille, where he made 36 appearances across all competitions and established himself as one of the more reliable defenders in Ligue 1.
Argentina confirmed the news in an official statement, wishing the player a swift recovery. “Defender Leonardo Balerdi suffered a muscle injury in the soleus of his right leg and will not be able to be part of the squad that will play the World Cup,” the statement read. “Hang in there, stay strong, and get well soon.”
No replacement has yet been announced for the 11-cap defender, with Argentina set to face Honduras in a friendly later on Saturday. The blow compounds an already difficult period for Scaloni, who is also managing fitness concerns surrounding Lionel Messi, Julian Alvarez and Emiliano Martinez in the days leading up to the tournament.
Argentina open their Group J campaign against Algeria on 16 June before further group fixtures against Austria and Jordan.
