Argentina is set to face a significant setback in their World Cup campaign, as they will be without the services of central defender Leonardo Balerdi. The reigning champions announced on Saturday that the 27-year-old player from Olympique Marseille sustained a muscle injury to his right calf during a training session in Texas. This injury comes as a blow to the team, considering Balerdi's potential impact on their defensive line.
Balerdi has made eleven appearances for the Argentine national team, known as the Albiceleste. Prior to his time with Marseille, he spent two years on loan from Boca Juniors to Borussia Dortmund, where he became one of the ten most expensive defenders in the club's history with a transfer fee of 15.5 million euros. However, his time in Germany was somewhat limited, as he only featured in seven Bundesliga matches.
This World Cup would have marked Balerdi's debut on the grand stage alongside stars like Lionel Messi. The Argentine Football Association has yet to announce who will replace him in the squad. Before kicking off their World Cup journey against Algeria on June 17, Argentina will play their final warm-up match against Honduras in College Station, Texas. In Group J, the defending champions will also face Austria on June 22 and World Cup debutants Jordan on June 28.
As reported by sport.de.
