Major update on Facundo Medina injury & fitness ahead of Argentina vs Egypt FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 clash

(Courtesy : Getty)
Medina was subbed off in the 86th minute and was seen limping while leaving the pitch.
Miami Stadium in Florida witnessed one of the most jaw-dropping encounters of the FIFA World Cup 2026, where debutants Cape Verde held reigning world champions and the best-ranked team in the world in the latest FIFA rankings, Argentina, to a 1-1 draw until the end of ninety minutes.
A brilliant header from Tottenham centre back Romero saw the ball get deflected from Borges for an own goal in the last 10 minutes of the extra time, which saw Argentina escape a big scare from Cape Verde, who almost dragged the game to penalties.
However, amid the happiness and celebrations of the South American giants progressing to the next round of the competition, Argentina were handed a major blow as Marseille defender Facundo Medina was seen getting subbed off in the 86th minute, holding the back of his leg while limping off the pitch.
Ahead of the next game against Egypt in the Round of 16, Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has spoken about Medina’s fitness and availability for the next game.
Will Facundo Medina be fit to play against Egypt in Round of 16 clash?
Facundo Medina, who plays as a centre back primarily for Marseille, is deployed as a left back for La Albiceleste as Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez and Cristian Romero play as centre backs for Lionel Scaloni’s side.
The Villa Fiorito-born defender has impressed a lot for Argentina. He started in three games against Algeria, Austria and Cape Verde. He is naturally left-footed and possesses excellent pace and crossing ability, even giving an assist to Messi against Austria.
Lionel Scaloni shared that what was assumed to be a big injury scare is merely a cramp. He reiterated that the Marseille defender was subbed off due to overexertion and it was merely a cramp.
“We’re very happy with Facundo (Medina); today he finished up with a cramp. Luckily, we also have Nico, who came in today and performed really well. I’m happy with both of them”
This is a big relief for Argentina as Facundo Medina remains a crucial player for Scaloni’s title defence. It will be interesting to see if Scaloni starts Tagliafico and starts Medina from the bench against Egypt or not.
What happened to Facundo Medina?
Medina was subbed off in 86th minute and was seen limping while leaving pitch
Will Facundo Medina be available for next game against Egypt?
Yes, Lionel Scaloni confirmed that Facundo Medina will be available for next game against Egypt
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In addition to writing articles on World and Indian Football, Saikat has also covered tournaments like the Durand Cup, Indian Super League, and Hockey India League. Notably, his exceptional communication skills have seen him interview legendary icons like Olympic 2024 gold medalist Yibbi Jansen, former Real Madrid player Javi Hernandez, and many more such sporting stalwarts.