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Argentina have encountered a setback in their preparations for the 2026 World Cup as defender Leonardo Balerdi has been forced to withdraw from the tournament after suffering a calf injury during training.

The Marseille centre-back, who was part of Lionel Scaloni’s final 26-player squad, sustained the injury earlier this week during a training session. Subsequent medical examinations revealed a soleus muscle issue in his right leg, ruling him out of the competition completely.

The injury comes as a major disappointment for the 27-year-old, who was poised to make his first World Cup appearance following an impressive campaign in Ligue 1. Balerdi played a crucial role in helping Marseille secure European qualification for next season, earning praise for his defensive reliability and aerial strength.

Argentina have yet to announce a replacement, but head coach Lionel Scaloni still has several defensive options available from his initial extended squad, which included ten defenders. Lucas Martínez Quarta, Germán Pezzella and Marcos Acuña are among the names under consideration to fill the vacancy.

The reigning world champions will continue their preparation schedule with a friendly against Honduras before opening their Group J campaign against Algeria on 17 June, followed by fixtures against Austria and Jordan.

Even with Balerdi’s unfortunate absence, Argentina remain among the leading contenders to defend their world title, though the reduction in defensive depth could pose challenges as the tournament progresses.