Scaloni stuns all: the world champion left out of the squad | OneFootball

The final Argentina squad for the 2026 World Cup included several surprises, but the absence that drew the most attention was Marcos Acuña.

The River Plate left-back, a world champion in Qatar 2022 and one of Lionel Scaloni’s most trusted players in recent years, is not among the 26 players called up for the World Cup.

The decision caused surprise because of “Huevo”’s current form and also because of his history with the Albiceleste. Acuña was an important piece during the Scaloni era, both in winning the Copa América and at the World Cup in Qatar, where he alternated between starting and playing key minutes.

In addition, the defender had been getting regular playing time at River and recently played in the Torneo Apertura final, in which Marcelo Gallardo’s team lost to Belgrano.

Although the national team has alternatives such as Nicolás Tagliafico, Facundo Medina, and even the possibility of using Valentín Barco on the left side, Acuña’s absence stands out as one of the strongest decisions in the squad selection.

Other major absences

Beyond the Acuña case, the list left other important names out of the World Cup.

One of them is Franco Mastantuono, one of the biggest breakout talents in Argentine football in recent times. The young River player seemed to have a chance of making the squad, but he was ultimately not included.

Players with European experience and previous appearances for the national team, such as Emiliano Buendía and Marcos Senesi, were also left out.

As often happens with every World Cup squad, Scaloni made bold decisions and left big names along the way. Now, with the roster confirmed, Argentina will begin the countdown toward another defense of its world title.

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