Mastantuono left out of Argentina's World Cup squad after difficult debut season at Real Madrid

Franco Mastantuono will not feature at the 2026 World Cup after Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni left the 18-year-old out of his final 26-man squad, announced on 28 May. The Real Madrid winger had earned four senior caps and was included in the Albiceleste’s March camp, but a loss of form in the second half of the season proved costly.

Mastantuono arrived at the Bernabéu last summer in a €45 million deal and made an encouraging start, but his influence faded as the campaign wore on and he appeared short of confidence by its conclusion. The omission caps a difficult first year in Spain for the teenager.

He is the fifth Real Madrid player to miss out on the tournament. Eduardo Camavinga, Dani Carvajal, Dean Huijsen and Trent Alexander-Arnold had already been excluded by their respective national teams, reflecting a broader malaise at a club that has now gone two consecutive seasons without a major trophy.

Scaloni’s squad is still well stocked with La Liga talent. Seven players from the Spanish top flight were selected, six of them from Atlético Madrid: Giuliano Simeone, Thiago Almada, Julián Álvarez, Nicolás González, Nahuel Molina and Juan Musso all made the cut. Real Betis midfielder Giovani Lo Celso also earned a place, as did Nico Paz — the Como midfielder who is reportedly set to return to Real Madrid this summer.

The squad is headlined by Lionel Messi as Argentina prepare to defend their world title on home soil across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Full Argentina squad for the 2026 World Cup

Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martínez, Gerónimo Rulli, Juan Musso.

Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel, Nahuel Molina, Lisandro Martínez, Nicolás Otamendi, Leonardo Balerdi, Cristian Romero, Nicolás Tagliafico, Facundo Medina.

Midfielders: Giovani Lo Celso, Leandro Paredes, Rodrigo De Paul, Exequiel Palacios, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister, Valentín Barco.

Forwards: Lionel Messi, Nicolás González, Giuliano Simeone, Lautaro Martínez, José Manuel López, Julián Álvarez, Thiago Almada, Nico Paz.