Lionel Scaloni, Argentina Make Decision After Unfortunate Leonardo Balerdi News

Lionel Scaloni and the Argentina national team have moved quickly after Leonardo Balerdi's World Cup ended before it could really begin. With Balerdi ruled out by a muscle injury in his right leg, Argentina confirmed that Marcos Senesi will take his place on the 26-player roster.

Senesi is now expected to join La Albiceleste at their base in Kansas City, Missouri, as the defending champions continue preparing for their June 16 opener against Algeria. It is an unfortunate blow for Balerdi, but Argentina have wasted no time in making sure Scaloni still has defensive cover before the tournament begins.

Gaston Edul confirmed the change in personnel for Argentina on X saying, "Marcos Senesi has been called up to the Argentina National Team for the World Cup."

Marcos Senesi está convocado a la Selección Argentina para la Copa del Mundo. pic.twitter.com/xu8tRZqZRk

— Gastón Edul (@gastonedul) June 11, 2026

For Senesi, this call-up arrives at a pretty big moment in his career. He has been around the Argentina setup before, but this is different. This is a World Cup squad, and it gives him the chance to step into a group that already knows exactly what it takes to win on the biggest stage.

Scaloni did not rush the decision publicly. After Argentina's warm-up match against Iceland, he suggested he had a clearer idea of what the squad needed, but still wanted a little more time before confirming the change. In the end, Senesi got the nod.

His international story has always had a bit of extra intrigue because Italy were also an option for him. With Italian roots, he could have gone down that route, and there was interest from their side too. But Senesi chose Argentina, made his debut in a friendly against Estonia, and has gradually stayed in the picture since then.

There is also a neat Tottenham Hotspur connection now. Senesi is heading there after his Bournemouth deal ends, which means he will soon share a club dressing room with Cristian Romero. First, though, both defenders will be focused on helping Argentina through Group J.

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This story was originally published June 11, 2026 at 3:35 PM.