Balerdi Ruled Out of 2026 World Cup After Training Injury

Argentina defender Leonardo Balerdi will miss the 2026 World Cup after suffering a serious leg injury during a pre-tournament training camp, according to reports from the national team setup. Balerdi, who plays for Olympique Marseille, was injured during a training session and is expected to be sidelined for approximately one month. After undergoing diagnosis, the defender returned to the team hotel, where sources said he was visibly emotional. Argentina is scheduled to open its World Cup campaign against Algeria on June 17. The team is grouped alongside Austria and Jordan for the tournament. The coaching staff, led by Lionel Scaloni, is also monitoring the fitness of goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, Nico Paz, Julián Álvarez and Gonzalo Montiel, the report said. Scaloni could face difficult decisions regarding players who are not fully prepared for the tournament. Before the World Cup, Argentina will play friendly matches against Honduras and Iceland as part of its preparation schedule.