On Monday, the Argentine Football Federation (AFA) announced the withdrawal of Leonardo Balerdi from the two friendly matches of the Albiceleste against Mauritania and Zambia.
Leonardo Balerdi will not be present with Argentina in the friendlies at the Bombonera in Buenos Aires. Called up by Lionel Scaloni for the two friendlies against Mauritania (March 27) and Zambia (March 31), the Marseille central defender, who played the full match lost against Lille on Sunday at the Orange Velodrome (1-2), is injured according to the Argentine Football Federation (AFA), which did not specify the nature of the Argentine international’s injury (11 caps).
Balerdi, injured with Marseille, seems well positioned to be called up for the 2026 World Cup
“Footballer Leonardo Balerdi is excluded from the list due to injury. In his place, the technical staff call up Lucas Martinez Quarta,” reads the brief statement from the Argentine Football Federation (AFA). This is the second announcement of changes compared to the initial squad, after Lionel Messi’s team announced the additions of Real Madrid winger Franco Mastantuono and Racing Strasbourg forward Joaquin Panichelli on Friday. Meanwhile, Leonardo Balerdi, apparently injured against Lille on Sunday with Marseille, has played 11 international matches, including seven in the qualifiers for the upcoming World Cup (June 11- July 19). He may play his first major tournament with Argentina at the 2026 World Cup.
Recall that the Finalissima, which was supposed to pit Argentina, the Copa America champions, against Spain, the winners of the last Euro, was initially scheduled for March 27 in Doha. It was canceled by UEFA for failing to reach an agreement with its South American counterpart (Conmebol) as well as with the AFA to find a new location other than Qatar and a new date for this prestigious match. The reigning world champions and Conmebol had expressed “their desire to play the Finalissima on neutral ground,” while Spain had proposed a match at the Bernabeu in Madrid.
