News Focus
- Franco Mastantuono excluded from Argentina’s final 26-man World Cup squad
- 18-year-old becomes fifth Real Madrid player to miss 2026 tournament
- Lionel Scaloni selects just seven La Liga stars, with Atletico Madrid providing six
Real Madrid are counting the cost of a disappointing campaign after another first-team star received devastating international news. The Spanish club failed to lift any major silverware this term, and that poor form has now denied several players the chance to compete on the biggest stage this summer.
Argentina winger Franco Mastantuono is the latest Los Blancos player to be snubbed for the World Cup. National team manager Lionel Scaloni confirmed his final squad for the tournament in North America, omitting the teenager despite including him in March’s international fixtures.
This rejection makes Mastantuono the fifth Madrid star to miss out, joining Eduardo Camavinga, Dani Carvajal, Dean Huijsen and Trent Alexander-Arnold on the sidelines. The youngster moved to the Santiago Bernabéu last summer in a €45 million deal and began life positively in the Spanish capital. However, his influence waned as the season progressed, and he appeared short of confidence during the closing weeks of the campaign.
Although the 18-year-old has earned four senior caps for the Albiceleste, Scaloni has opted against taking him to the United States, Canada and Mexico. Instead, the coach has selected seven domestic-based players, with city rivals Atletico Madrid providing the bulk of the contingent. Giuliano Simeone, Thiago Almada, Julian Alvarez, Nicolas Gonzalez, Nahuel Molina and Juan Musso all represent the Rojiblancos, while Giovani Lo Celso of Real Betis also features.
Notably, midfielder Nico Paz has been included despite currently playing for Italian club Como. The 20-year-old is expected to complete a return to Real Madrid this summer, and he will join Lionel Messi in the final squad.