World Cup 2026: Marcos Senesi replaces Balerdi in Argentina squad | OneFootball

Because of the muscle tear suffered by Leonardo Balerdi, which ruled him out of the 2026 World Cup, Lionel Scaloni decided to urgently call up former San Lorenzo center-back Marcos Senesi to complete the final squad for the Argentina National Team.

The Argentina National Team suffered a major setback in its camp just days before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. After Leonardo Balerdi’s serious injury was confirmed, the coaching staff led by Lionel Scaloni made its decision after several days of analysis and officially announced Marcos Senesi’s call-up to take his place in central defense.

The outlook worsened for the national delegation last weekend, when Balerdi, who had been gaining ground in the coach’s plans, felt severe pain during a morning training session. Subsequent tests brought the worst possible news: a tear in the soleus muscle of his right leg.

Leonardo Balerdi was withdrawn from the Argentina National Team for the 2026 World Cup.

With an estimated recovery time of 21 days, the Boca Juniors academy product was set to miss the entire group stage. This forced the national team to make a drastic decision under FIFA regulations, which allow changes to the final squad due to serious injuries up to 24 hours before the first match.

"Defender Leonardo Balerdi suffered a muscle injury to the soleus of his right leg and will not be part of the squad that will play in the World Cup," the official medical report issued at the time by the Argentine Football Association explained.

Argentina’s announcement just days before its 2026 World Cup debut

Needing a center-back who would be at 100% from the opening match, Scaloni immediately turned to the list of reserves. Finally, the AFA confirmed the change through its communication channels: "Defender Marcos Senesi joins the squad of players who will compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup."

The national team is awaiting its debut on Tuesday, June 16.

In this way, Senesi joins the Albiceleste camp to provide depth in the back line. Despite the bitter feeling of losing a teammate, the team is polishing the final details to overcome this unexpected setback and start the 2026 World Cup in the best possible way.

Keep reading:

Last friendly before the 2026 World Cup: Argentina vs. Iceland: time, lineups, and TV coverage

Tomás Aranda’s debut for the national team: applauded by De Paul and praised by Scaloni

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

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