Argentina’s preparations for the defence of their World Cup crown took a worrying turn this weekend. Hours after a routine 2-0 win over Honduras in College Station, Texas, Lionel Scaloni faced the press not to celebrate the result, but to confront a growing list of fitness concerns — headlined by the loss of defender Leonardo Balerdi for the entire tournament.
Balerdi ruled out
The blow had been brewing for a day. Balerdi picked up a muscle problem in training, and after holding out hope it was something minor, the staff confirmed the worst: a soleus injury serious enough to end his World Cup before it began. The 27-year-old Marseille centre-back, fresh off a strong club campaign, would have been making his tournament debut.
Scaloni was blunt about the timing and the ripple effect, admitting the misfortune forces the coaching staff to rethink decisions across the squad rather than simply slotting in a like-for-like replacement. Marcos Senesi has been widely tipped as the favorite to take Balerdi’s place on the 26-man roster, though no announcement has been made yet.
“We’re not at 100% with several players”
What unsettled fans most wasn’t the Balerdi news itself, but Scaloni’s wider warning. He cautioned that the squad is carrying knocks beyond the back line, hinting that the eventual call-up may not even be a defender. He stressed there was no need to panic but made clear that several players are short of full sharpness, and that the staff would wait until the final tune-up before locking in any decisions.
According to journalist Gastón Edul (@gastonedul), the players currently not at 100% are:
• Leandro Paredes
• Nahuel Molina
• Gonzalo Montiel
That trio of question marks — a key midfield anchor and two of the squad’s full-back options — explains why Scaloni is keeping his cards close to his chest rather than rushing anyone back.
The good news for La Albiceleste
It’s not all gloom. Per Edul, three important names have turned the corner and are available from the next match:
• Lionel Messi
• Nico Paz
• Nico González
Messi, who had been managing muscle fatigue after his final Inter Miami outing before the break, is back in the fold — a major relief for a side built around him. The recovery of Nico Paz, one of the brightest young talents in the setup, and the return of Nico González add depth to the attacking and wide areas.
And there’s a timeline on another key forward: per Edul, Julián Álvarez will be ready in time for the opener against Algeria, even if he isn’t rushed into the friendlies.
What’s next
Argentina close out their pre-tournament schedule with a final friendly against Iceland before turning their attention to the real thing. Drawn in Group J alongside Algeria, Austria and Jordan, the reigning champions open their title defence against Algeria on June 16.
Scaloni’s message, in essence: stay calm, but stay patient. With Balerdi gone and a handful of regulars still working back to fitness, the final shape of Argentina’s squad — and starting XI — won’t be settled until the very last moment.
