(Photo credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
Argentina defender Leonardo Balerdi will not participate in this summer's World Cup due to a right calf injury, the team announced ahead of Saturday night's friendly against Honduras in College Station, Texas.
'Defender Leonardo Balerdi suffered a muscle injury in the soleus of his right leg and will not be able to be part of the squad that will play the World Cup,' Argentina's official X account shared in a post. 'Chin up, stay strong, and a speedy recovery, Flaco!'Balerdi, 27, has made 11 appearances for Argentina since his debut for the senior national team in 2019. He has never played in a World Cup but made seven appearances (three starts) during this cycle's qualification process.
Serving as the captain for Marseille domestically, the center back was coming off a season where he made 36 appearances across all competitions. He's made 153 appearances for Marseille since he was loaned to the club in 2020 and permanently acquired in 2021, scoring four goals.
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni will be able to replace Balerdi on Argentina's 26-man roster. The team begins its 2022 World Cup defense in Group J play against Algeria on June 16 in Kansas City, which is where the team has set up its base camp.
--Field Level Media
