Buenos Aires, March 23 (NA) – Argentine national team defender Leonardo Balerdi has been ruled out of the squad due to injury, and his place will be taken by Lucas Martínez Quarta. Meanwhile, Gonzalo Montiel is also a doubt for the two matches. The news was confirmed around midday through the Argentine national team's digital platforms, which, during this FIFA double date, will face Mauritania and Zambia. These will be their last matches before the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Qatar, and Mexico. 'The player Leonardo Balerdi is ruled out of the squad due to injury. In his place, the technical staff calls up Lucas Martínez Quarta,' the communiqué stated. While Balerdi has gained a lot of ground with the Argentine national team over the past year, his absence for these matches could seriously harm his chances of making the final squad for the 2026 World Cup. Martínez Quarta, for his part, will have a great opportunity to showcase himself in these friendlies and convince the national team coach, Lionel Scaloni, to call him up for the World Cup, which starts in just 80 days.
