Official: Real Madrid starlet left out of national team squad amid struggle for minutes | OneFootball

Franco Mastantuono was one of Real Madrid’s big-money signings of the summer.

Over halfway into the season, however, it is safe to say that he is the least influential of the four names who arrived.

The Argentine star began well under Xabi Alonso and fell off towards the end of 2025 owing to poor form and struggling with pubalgia.

He returned to prominence in the initial days under Alvaro Arbeloa, but has once again fallen off and is struggling in the pecking order.

A cascade of unfortunate developments

If it was not enough that Mastantuono’s importance at the club level is dwindling, the player has now suffered a blow in terms of his international hopes as well, despite being highly rated by the Argentine national team and Lionel Scaloni.

Recently, the national team manager officially released his squad for the upcoming international break, which is the final hiatus before the FIFA World Cup later this year. Mastantuono, however, had no place on that list.

Despite being just 18 years of age, the winger has already made three appearances for the senior Argentine national team and played for them as recently as November last year.

Given his lack of minutes for Real Madrid, however, he has now been left out, and the development throws major doubt on his participation in the World Cup.

Mastantuono’s last start for Real Madrid came against Rayo Vallecano over a month and a half ago and he has racked up just 61 minutes in eight games since then. His situation, needless to say, is alarming.

His participation between now and the end of the season will count for a lot, especially in terms of whether or not he receives a World Cup call-up.