Top five players left out of Argentina's FIFA World Cup 2026 squad ft. Gomez & Dybala
Some of the 2022 FIFA World Cup winners have not been included!
The Argentina men’s national football team will now be ready to defend their crown. They are the reigning FIFA World Cup champions.
Lionel Scaloni will be releasing a list of players who are going to represent La Albiceleste at FIFA’s flagship tournament. There are some of the players whose names are not there in the prelim squad. Meanwhile, Angel Di Maria announced his retirement after reaching the pinnacle with the national team in 2022.
The confirmed list of players will likely have a young and new generation of players with some experienced members by their side. Names like Lionel Messi, Emiliano Martínez, Enzo Fernández, etc., are surely going to make it to the final list.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is all set to be played from June 11, with a total of 48 teams battling for a megaprize. This edition of the mega competition is scheduled to take place in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
Also Read: Argentina name preliminary squad for FIFA World Cup 2026 ft. Lionel Messi
Top players missing from Argentina’s preliminary WC squad
| S.No | Players | Clubs |
| 1. | Paulo Dybala | AS Roma |
| 2. | Angel Correa | Tigres UANL |
| 3. | Papu Gomez | Calcio Padova |
| 4. | Juan Foyth | Villarreal CF |
| 5. | Franco Armani | River Plate |
5. Franco Armani
The 39-year-old goalkeeper, who was one of the players to lift the World Cup in 2022, is not included in the preliminary squad by Lionel Scaloni. Since his lone appearance for the Argentina national football team in 2023, Franco Armani has not featured for the world champions again.
4. Juan Foyth
Even after making four appearances for La Albiceleste in 2025, Juan Foyth has been omitted from the preliminary World Cup squad. The Villarreal defender is also one of the names to win the 2022 edition of the mega competition with Argentina.
3. Papu Gomez
Numerous controversies regarding the doping ban have seen Papu Gomez in the news consistently. He was suspended for two years and is now back in action on the field. The 38-year-old is currently a part of the Serie B side Calcio Padova.
After recently sustaining an ankle injury in his right foot, he has been ruled out. Gomez was also a part of the Argentina squad that lifted FIFA’s flagship trophy in 2022.
2. Angel Correa
The Tigres UANL forward is not in a top run of form at the moment. This might have led Lionel Scaloni to not include Angel Correa in the preliminary squad. He is also one of the FIFA World Cup 2022 winners.
He has only scored 18 goals in 48 appearances for his club. With the competition for an attacking place, it is not enough.
1. Paulo Dybala
Many fans would’ve been in shock after looking at Paulo Dybala’s name not being included in Argentina’s preliminary squad for the World Cup. He was one of the main men during the 2022 edition and helped La Albiceleste in the final third. Dybala has played a decent number of games for AS Roma this season.
But the concerns might be regarding his fitness, in which he has lacked consistency.
Will Lionel Messi play in the FIFA World Cup 2026?
The Inter Miami star is likely to compete in the upcoming edition of the mega competition.
Who won the 2022 FIFA World Cup?
Lionel Messi’s Argentina came out on top to lift the trophy.
Who is the head coach of the Argentina national football team?
Lionel Scaloni.
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Dilpreet is a dedicated football writer with a keen eye for World Football. As a proud Real Madrid fan, we believe his work reflects the same ambition and precision. Since joining Khel Now in 2025, he has crafted stories beyond scores, diving into tactics, culture, and emotion. With a strong background in content writing, he blends clarity with creativity, always aiming to bring the beautiful game closer to readers.