Franco Mastantuono Is Left Out of Argentina’s Call-up Due to Lack of Minutes at Real Madrid

The Argentine midfielder was not included in the call-up for his national team after losing his starting position at his Spanish club

Mastantuono left out

Franco Mastantuono was left out of the Argentina national team squad for the upcoming friendly matches ahead of the World Cup, raising concerns over coach Lionel Scaloni’s decision and prompting questions about the coach’s tactical approach, given that he does not have the player at his disposal. With the 2026 World Cup drawing closer, this could be a wake-up call for the Real Madrid player and also an indication that he could be left out if he doesn't improve his performance or get more playing time.

The reason for not being called up

The Argentine midfielder had already been called up by the national team to play friendly matches throughout the year and was in a good position to continue racking up playing minutes and establishing himself on the world champion team. However, one of the reasons the young player is not on the list is that he has not been able to secure a starting role on his Spanish team, as Arbeloa did not consider him essential to his tactical approach.

Not the only notable absence

There is strong competition among the players on the list, and this is not the only notable absence from Scaloni’s squad. This does not mean that the young midfielder will not attend the World Cup; rather, the head coach will be looking to try out other talents who have performed well in recent matches and who could prove to be viable options as the World Cup approaches.