Lionel Scaloni Makes Decision on Paulo Dybala Ahead of 2026 World Cup

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Lionel Scaloni Makes Decision on Paulo Dybala Ahead of 2026 World Cup

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kevin Binoy | Last updated May 11, 2026 2:48 PM ET

Lionel Scaloni appears to have made a big call before Argentina’s 2026 World Cup squad is finalized. With the tournament getting closer and managers starting to narrow down their options, Paulo Dybala has reportedly been left out of Argentina’s preliminary 50-man list.

That is a major early signal, especially for a player with Dybala’s profile and experience. As Argentina prepare to defend their World Cup crown, Scaloni seems ready to make some tough selection decisions, and Dybala may be the first major name to miss out.

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Argentina’s World Cup planning has officially entered the serious stage, and Lionel Scaloni has already made one decision that will get people talking.

The extended squad is packed with star power, led once again by Lionel Messi, who is expected to play in his final World Cup. A lot of the trusted names from Argentina’s title-winning group are still there, but Scaloni has clearly not treated this as a simple reunion tour. He has brought in younger options, rewarded form, and left out some players who once felt close to automatic selections.

Argentina has formally submitted the official preliminary squad list for the 2026 World Cup.

Out of the 55 names listed, Paulo Dybala wasn't one of them pic.twitter.com/RWkFc0dNzk
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) May 11, 2026

The biggest omission is Paulo Dybala. Given his profile, experience, and long connection with the national team, not even making the provisional list is a pretty strong message. Angel Correa and Valentin Castellanos also missing out adds to the sense that Scaloni is reshaping the attacking picture before the tournament.

That creates openings for players like Matias Soule and Mateo Pellegrino, while Alejandro Garnacho’s return gives Argentina another exciting wide option. There are also younger names in the mix, including Franco Mastantuono and Claudio Echeverri, which shows Scaloni is willing to look beyond the usual group.

The list is still far from final, of course. Argentina must cut it down to 26 players, so several included names are still fighting for a real place on the plane.

But even at this early stage, the message is clear: Scaloni is prepared to make ruthless calls, and Dybala appears to be the first major casualty.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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