Argentina world cup plans changed on Saturday when Leonardo Balerdi was ruled out after suffering a muscle injury in the soleus of his right leg. The defender will not be part of the squad for the tournament, and Lionel Scaloni now has to rework one of the central-defence options before the World Cup squad is finalized.
Balerdi Leaves Argentina Short
Argentina’s statement on Saturday said 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. Chin up, strength, and a speedy recovery, skinny!” That removes one more defender from the pool Scaloni was working through for the tournament.
The immediate effect is straightforward: Argentina must fill a squad spot. Marcos Senesi is among the names in the frame, and he had already been viewed as a possible late call-up after being left out of Scaloni’s initial squad.
Marcos Senesi Back In Play
Senesi’s profile now sits at the center of the discussion because he is one of only two natural centre-backs in the group of replacement candidates, alongside Martinez Quarta. German Pezzella is another option, while Marcos Acuna, Nicolas Capaldo, Agustin Giay and Kevin Mac Allister are also under consideration.
The defensive picture around Argentina is already crowded at the top end. Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Otamendi and Facundo Medina are the other central defenders in the squad, so any late adjustment would be about balance as much as simple cover.
Tottenham Watch On Senesi
Senesi’s situation carries a second layer because Tottenham have been in pole position to sign him as a free agent since April. Reports on Saturday said he had undergone his medical and signed a four-year Tottenham contract, with pre-season for the 2026/27 campaign due to start a few weeks after the World Cup final on July 19, 2026.
That timing leaves Tottenham tracking whether Argentina’s decision sends him into the World Cup squad and delays his arrival. He was already part of Argentina’s group for the March international fixtures, so a call-up would not be a surprise inside his own timeline, only a complication for the club preparing around him.
