Argentina XI Who WON’T Be at the 2026 World Cup

Argentina are the reigning World Cup champions, after they won the trophy in 2022 by defeating France in the final. As such, expectations are sky-high for La Albiceleste.

Sadly, this means that a myriad of top-quality players will have to miss out on their 2026 World Cup squad. We have put together an XI of players who we think won’t make it to the tournament – including stars from AS Roma, Chelsea and Manchester United.

GK: Paulo Gazzaniga

We feel for Paulo Gazzaniga – he was consistently overlooked during his prime years and is now too old to mount a serious international comeback.

At the age of 34, he hasn’t played for Argentina since 2018 – it’s safe to say he will not be featuring at the 2026 World Cup.

RB: Pablo Maffeo

Pablo Maffeo can consider himself unlucky to be in an XI akin to this one. A perfectly solid player, one needs to be more than just ‘solid’ to make it into a all-star team such as Argentina’s.

A Spanish national, he qualifies for the Argentina team through his mother. He is also eligible to represent Italy – after the Italians crashed out in the playoffs against Bosnia and Herzegovina, they will likely need him more than Argentina will moving forwards.

CB: Lisandro Martinez

Lisandro Martinez has been a bit of a disappointment since joining Manchester United. Despite putting in a few world-class performances for the Red Devils, his form has been largely inconsistent since his arrival at Old Trafford.

Not only this, he is out of favour with Lionel Scaloni at the moment – furthermore, Martinez has struggled with injuries over the course of the 2025/26 Premier League season.

CB: Lucas Martínez Quarta

Lucas Martinez Quarta was part of the Argentina squad that won the World Cup in 2022 – however, he has not been in contention since 2024.

Currently, the 29-year-old plays for River Plate in his native country, following a five-year stint with Fiorentina in the Serie A.

LB: Julio Soler

Julio Soler is a fine player – unfortunately, too many factors are running against his favour for him to be a realistic pick at the World Cup this year.

For starters, he has never been given a senior cap, being just 21 years of age. On top of this, the Bournemouth man is also out of action with a hamstring injury – Soler will probably have to wait until the next World Cup cycle.

CM: Nicolas Dominguez

Had the World Cup taken place in 2025, Nicolas Dominguez would have had a realistic shot at inclusion – this year, however, it’s hard to make a case for him.

Nottingham Forest have had a rotten season, with Dominguez occupying the heart of midfield. They are still in danger of relegation, with safety still not in sight.

CM: Guido Rodríguez

A 30-cap veteran for Argentina, Guido Rodriguez hasn’t played for his country since 2024 – on top of this, his current form is not good enough for Scaloni to consider his re-introduction.

After a largely fruitless spell at West Ham United, Rodriguez moved to Valencia in the January transfer window. So far, he has made seven La Liga appearances for the Blanquinegros.

RW: Angel Di Maria

Is Angel Di Maria one of the best Argentina players of all time? Yes. Is Angel Di Maria still playing at the peak of his powers, now aged 38? We’d suggest not.

A magical player in his day, Di Maria announced his international retirement in 2024, after the Copa America – the former Real Madrid star hasn’t shown any signs of going back on this.

AM: Paulo Dybala

Paulo Dybala never officially announced his retirement from international football, but the Roma man has been seldom seen in Argentina’s international setup over the last half-decade.

A wicked set-piece taker, Dybala’s career has been blighted by bouts of poor form and injuries – aged 32, it’s unlikely we will see him at the World Cup.

LW: Alejandro Garnacho

Alejandro Garnacho’s disinclusion comes down to one, key factor – form. A fantastic, dynamic winger on his day, Garnacho has led a poor season at Chelsea this season.

Many have questioned Garnacho’s heart and desire in the last year. If you aren’t fully committed, you should not be included in any international squad.

ST: Mauro Icardi

Mauri Icardi is, for all intents and purposes, a bad egg. Stories of his outbursts and behind-the-scenes antics are infamous – for all his talents, this is something that the squad can do without.

On top of this, he is now 33 years of age and hasn’t played for Argentina since 2018. A player of his ability should have far more than eight Argentina caps, but he has been his own worst enemy on a number of occasions.