Real Madrid wonderkid Franco Mastantuono has been left out of Argentina’s squad for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, according to reports.
Less than a day before Argentina’s official squad for the tournament was set to be announced, news began to filter out that the former River Plate star has not been chosen by coach Lionel Scaloni for his 26-man squad.
The news was first reported by journalist Gastón Edul via his X account. In a short video, the reporter – who closely follows the day-to-day activities of the Albiceleste and its stars – confirmed the youngster had not made the cut.
“Franco Mastantuono is not going to the World Cup with the Argentina national team. The squad list will be released in the next few hours, probably tomorrow, and the Real Madrid player will not be included,” Edul stated.
Several local media outlets followed suit soon after, confirming the news.
Though he was not able to confirm their selection, Edul said that midfielders Giovani Lo Celso and Valentín Barco were both at the national team’s training camp in Ezeiza, Buenos Aires Province, and would make the final shortlist.
Scaloni last month named 55 players to a “long list” of potential inclusions, which he has to cut to a final list of 26 by the end of the month.
Argentina will begin their World Cup campaign against Algeria on June 16 in Kansas City, in a Group J that also includes Jordan and Austria.
Before then, the Albiceleste will play warm-up friendlies against Honduras in Texas on June 6 and Iceland in Alabama three days later.
Scaloni revealed he plans to call up more than 30 players for those friendlies, allowing extra cover in case “something happens” to any of the final 26-man squad.
Among those carrying injuries are Tottenham Hotspur defender Cristian Romero, who is expected to arrive short of match fitness after a strain to the collateral ligament in his right knee, as well as full-backs Nahuel Molina and Gonzalo Montiel, both sidelined recently with muscle tears.
The Argentina coach has until June 1 to submit his final squad list for the tournament and will include several promising young talents in his travelling party.
Hamburg SV midfielder Nicolás Capaldo is among those selected, as is young Boca Juniors star Tomás Aranda, who will join the national squad for the first time. Nineteen-year-old River Plate forward Joaquín Freitas has also been rewarded for his breakthrough season in the top flight, as has his teammate goalkepeer Santiago Beltrán, who had already been named on Scaloni's preliminary shortlist.
Scaloni has also decided to reward the performances of two other domestic talents: Ignacio Ovando, the lively winger from Rosario Central, and Simón Escobar, the driving force in Vélez Sarsfield’s midfield.
Scaloni plays down Messi fears
Earlier this week, Scaloni played down fears that Lionel Messi could miss the tournament after suffering an injury.
Messi has been diagnosed with muscle fatigue in his left hamstring by his Major League Soccer club Inter Miami after he made an abrupt exit from Miami's 6-4 victory over Philadelphia in the 73rd minute on Sunday.
Speaking in an interview, the national team coach said Messi's fitness "is not that bad."
"Obviously we would have preferred that nothing had happened," Scaloni told local TV station DSports on Tuesday. "Now one has to wait and see how it evolves and above all the new tests they are going to conduct in order to see if it confirms their original diagnosis."
Argentina are set to begin their World Cup campaign on June 16 against Algeria in Kansas City. They then play Austria on June 22 and round off their Group J campaign against Jordan on June 28.
Messi has not formally confirmed he plans to play in the World Cup, but is widely expected to return for what would be a record-matching sixth appearance at the finals.
His Portuguese rival Cristiano Ronaldo and potentially Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa would also be making a sixth appearance.
– TIMES/AFP/PERFIL
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