Aranda’s Argentina debut, applauded by De Paul, praised by Scaloni | OneFootball

Tomás Aranda experienced an unforgettable night with the Argentina National Team, which continues putting the final pieces in place ahead of the 2026 World Cup. In its second-to-last international friendly, the Albiceleste beat Honduras 2-0, leaving a highly positive impression and marking the highly anticipated senior debut of the young midfielder.

The match served as the stage for Tomás Aranda’s long-awaited senior debut. The talented midfielder, who came through Boca Juniors’ youth academy, showed all of his potential at just 19 years old. In this clash, the native of Ciudadela experienced one of the most important moments of his budding career.

Tomás Aranda made his debut wearing Argentina’s number 32 shirt. Photo: CABJ Press.

With the team fully in control of the match, Lionel Scaloni decided to give some minutes to the bench. Tomás Aranda came on in the 81st minute to replace Exequiel Palacios, entering alongside another player with Boca roots, Nicolás Capaldo. In this way, the youngster began to gain his first international experience.

The midfielder played a total of 9 minutes on the pitch, enough time to show his strong personality. In a squad full of stars, the debutant was very involved and dynamic, without feeling the pressure of the occasion. He played freely and was always willing to join the team’s passing rhythm.

That great confidence was evident when he tried a shot from outside the box in his first few minutes on the field. This attacking move sparked an immediate reaction from Rodrigo De Paul, who applauded him enthusiastically from the pitch, appreciating the young footballer’s boldness and character.

Tomás Aranda stood out in the minutes he played

Statistically, his performance contributed directly to the team’s possession in the opposition half. The midfielder completed his passes in the attacking half with perfect accuracy, recording 9 accurate passes from 9 attempts (100%). A mark that highlights his excellent decision-making under pressure.

This was added to by his standout overall display on the ball throughout the final stretch of the friendly. He recorded a total of 10 accurate passes from 11 attempts, representing a brilliant 91% success rate. He also posted perfect crossing numbers, with 1 attempt and 1 accurate cross.

As for his work in deeper areas, his involvement was much lower but still timely. Regarding his passes in his own half, he completed 1 accurate pass from 2 attempts, reaching a 50% success rate. They were solid numbers to cap off an excellent first step in the Albiceleste shirt.

The Boca midfielder dazzled for the Argentina national team. Photo: CABJ Press.

The fun moment of the night came in the post-match press conference, with well-deserved praise from Lionel Scaloni. The coach highlighted his attitude: “He’s got that street-football edge, he plays well, he wants the ball. He came on chewing gum like he was at home. I told him, ‘take the gum out.’”

To wrap up his analysis of the midfielder, the head coach conveyed plenty of calm about the future. “He’s so calm and feels so good that he’s comfortable and plays very well. We just have to give him time,” Scaloni said, bringing a dream night to a close just days before the biggest tournament in world football.

Keep reading:

Tomás Aranda made his debut for the Argentina National Team just days before the 2026 World Cup

With Aranda’s debut: Argentina beat Honduras

Leonardo Balerdi suffered an injury and was ruled out of the 2026 World Cup

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.