Romero's family bond, Argentina outcry and the Spurs wages fuelling his World Cup drive

Cristian Romero will line up against England in Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final as one of Argentina’s most important defensive figures, having started every match of their campaign alongside Lisandro Martinez at the heart of La Albiceleste’s backline.

The 28-year-old arrives at the semi-final stage after a difficult club season with Tottenham Hotspur, where injury and suspension hampered his form as Spurs were dragged into a Premier League relegation battle. The Europa League holders ultimately needed a result on the final day against Everton to secure their top-flight status, having lost 2-1 to Chelsea in the week prior.

That Chelsea defeat sparked one of the more controversial moments of Romero’s season. The Spurs captain flew to Argentina to watch his boyhood club Belgrano face River Plate in a title decider — on the same day Tottenham’s fate hung in the balance. The club cited rehabilitation at Belgrano’s facilities as the official reason for the trip, but supporters were left furious by the timing of his absence. The episode was widely described as scandalous in the Argentine and British press alike.

Off the pitch, Romero’s character is markedly different from the combative presence he projects in matches. He began dating Karen Cavaller, also from Córdoba, in 2018, and the pair married two years later. Cavaller holds a degree in business administration and works in human resources — a career she has built independently of football. The couple have two children: son Valentino, born in 2021, and daughter Lucy, born three years later.

Romero’s mother, Rosa, has spoken about the depth of his family loyalty, telling Super Deportivo Radio that he used his first week’s wages to buy her a house. When Argentina clinched their third World Cup title four years ago, Romero marked the moment on Instagram with photos of his wife and son, writing: “How I love you two, my loves. They are my everything.”

Now Romero has the chance to add a second world title to his collection. Standing in his way on Wednesday is an England side built around Jude Bellingham, and a semi-final that will test whether his resurgent international form can outlast the scrutiny of a bruising domestic campaign.