In this file photo taken on 1 February, 2022 Argentina's Giovani Lo Celso controls the ball during the South American qualification football match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at the Mario Kempes Stadium in Cordoba, Argentina
In this file photo taken on 1 February, 2022 Argentina's Giovani Lo Celso controls the ball during the South American qualification football match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at the Mario Kempes Stadium in Cordoba, Argentina
Football

Argentina's Lo Celso to miss World Cup due to hamstring injury

Reuters

Argentina's Giovani Lo Celso has been ruled out of the World Cup with a hamstring injury for which the midfielder requires surgery, Argentine media reported on Tuesday.

The 26-year-old was replaced during Villarreal's LaLiga loss against Athletic Bilbao on Oct. 30 and scans confirmed that the midfielder suffered a hamstring tear.

Spanish media reported Lo Celso, who is on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, had exhausted all possible options to be on the flight to Qatar, including consultations with specialists from different parts of the world for a less invasive treatment.

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) did not respond to a request for comment. Reuters has also contacted Villarreal for comment.

In this file photo taken on 14 June, 2021, Argentina's Giovani Lo Celso (L) is challenged by Chile's Erick Pulgar during their Conmebol Copa America 2021 football tournament group phase match at the Nilton Santos Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Lo Celso was a key player in Argentina's 2021 Copa America win and World Cup qualification. He is a big loss for coach Lionel Scaloni's squad, who had previously said he was 'irreplaceable'.

Scaloni must also assess the fitness of other injured players such as Paulo Dybala and Juan Foyth before announcing his final 26-man squad next week.

Argentina are in Group C and will begin their World Cup campaign against Saudi Arabia on Nov. 22. They also face Mexico and Poland in the group stage.

Read More