Defending champion Argentina finally confirmed its 26-man squad for the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and the final list left Bangla Cricket Live readers with several talking points despite Lionel Scaloni largely selecting the strongest group available. A few notable players still missed out, and leading Argentine outlet Ole highlighted nine names whose absence felt especially regrettable.
The most familiar name for many fans is 18-year-old Real Madrid talent Franco Mastantuono. He has been viewed as one of Argentina football’s brightest hopes for the future and even wore the number 10 shirt when Lionel Messi was absent. Unfortunately, Mastantuono went through an uneven season at Real Madrid.
After Alonso left his role, Mastantuono gradually slipped toward the fringes of the team. This season, he made 35 appearances, scored three goals, provided one assist, and also received one red card. In the end, Scaloni chose players with greater experience and more stable playing time, while Nico Paz and Giuliano Simeone gained the upper hand in the competition for squad places.
The omissions of two Premier League names, Marcos Senesi and Emiliano Buendia, also caused real regret. Senesi was a key centre-back for Bournemouth, who emerged as one of the surprise packages of the season and finished sixth in the league. Considering Argentina’s defence has not always looked fully settled, he seemed like a very reasonable option to add balance and depth.
Buendia’s case may feel even harsher. The 29-year-old enjoyed a genuine comeback season with Aston Villa, making as many as 54 appearances, scoring 11 goals, adding nine assists, and directly contributing to 20 goals. He also delivered a goal and an assist in last week’s Europa League final. Yet because both he and Senesi have remained fringe figures for Argentina, even outstanding club seasons were not enough to save them. In a Bangla Cricket Live football roundup shaped by form and timing, their exclusion is the kind of call that leaves fans scratching their heads.
Marcos Acuna, meanwhile, was a trusted starter for Argentina during their 2022 World Cup triumph and their 2024 Copa America victory. The 34-year-old has long been one of Scaloni’s most reliable players, but he was forced off with a muscle problem during the Argentine autumn league final four days ago. With his physical condition now a concern, his place has been taken by Medina.
Other players listed by Ole as controversial omissions include Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni, Roma’s Matias Soule, Como midfielder Maximo Perrone, Palmeiras player Anibal Moreno Jai, and Hamburg’s Nicolas Capaldo. Each case carries its own logic, but together they show how difficult Argentina’s final selection became once reputation, fitness, age, form, and tactical balance all had to be weighed at the same time.
For a squad chasing another historic run, every decision was always going to be placed under the microscope, and BD Cricket Live coverage of Argentina’s final selection underlines how even a world champion cannot avoid debate when talented players are left at home. Scaloni may have chosen experience and reliability over risk, but the nine absentees named by Ole prove that Argentina’s depth has become both a blessing and a headache.