Paulo Dybala: has fallen out of favor with the national team setup and has not proven he still belongs at this level, despite not being at retirement age.\n- **Ángel Di María** retired from international duty after the 2024 Copa América, ending a legendary 145-cap career with 31 goals and 32 assists.\n- **Alejandro Garnacho**, born in Spain but representing Argentina, was left out due to inconsistent form with Chelsea during the club season.\n- **Why this matters:** Argentina has struggled to fill the void left by Di María on the left wing, with Scaloni trying Thiago Almada, Giovani Lo Celso, Julián Álvarez, Nico González, and Alexis Mac Allister in the role — none have fully secured it.\n- **Historical context:** Di María was the hero of Argentina's 2014 Round of 16 match against Switzerland and scored in multiple finals, making his absence both tactical and emotional.
Ángel Di María retired from international football after Argentina's 2024 Copa América triumph, ending a career that included four major titles: the 2022 World Cup, the 2021 and 2024 Copa América, and the 2022 Finalissima. His 145 appearances and knack for scoring in finals made him irreplaceable — and that's exactly the problem.
Lionel Scaloni admitted the coaching staff tried to convince Di María to return. *"We asked Ángel to come back and say goodbye to the fans. He stepped away, and there was no way to convince him,"* Scaloni said. *"His story is like a movie because it ended in the best possible way."*
Di María also made headlines for not attending the World Cup final in person. Despite speculation he would travel to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, he explained: *"I don't want to disrupt the current ecosystem of the national team; they've earned their place in this final step by step."* He remains in daily contact with Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul, offering support from his club, Rosario Central.
Once seen as Messi's natural heir, Paulo Dybala has not featured for Argentina in recent major tournaments. At 32, he isn't retirement age, but his form has not convinced Scaloni that he deserves a spot in an already stacked attacking lineup.
Alejandro Garnacho, 22, has an interesting connection to both finalists — born in Spain but choosing to represent Argentina. However, his performances with Chelsea during the 2025-26 season were not strong enough to earn a World Cup roster spot. Unlike Di María and Dybala, Garnacho's international future remains open if he can rediscover his best form.
Since Di María's retirement, Scaloni has experimented with multiple solutions on the left flank:
Thiago Almada: started the role early in the tournament
Julián Álvarez: and **Nico González** have been deployed wide
Alexis Mac Allister: shifted to the left in a 4-4-2 formation against Egypt
Giovani Lo Celso: has also had opportunities
None have fully replicated Di María's unique combination of dribbling, creativity, and big-game temperament. This ongoing search highlights just how difficult it is to replace a generational talent.
Why isn't Paulo Dybala playing for Argentina at the 2026 World Cup?\nA: Dybala has fallen out of favor with Lionel Scaloni's national team setup. While not retired, he hasn't proven he still belongs at the highest international level and was omitted from the squad.\n\nQ: Has Ángel Di María officially retired from Argentina?\nA: Yes. Di María retired from international duty following Argentina's 2024 Copa América victory. He made 145 appearances, scoring 31 goals and providing 32 assists, and won four major titles.\n\nQ: Why didn't Di María attend the World Cup final in person?\nA: Di María decided not to travel to New Jersey to avoid disrupting the team's focus and ecosystem. He also had professional commitments with Rosario Central and continues to support the squad from Argentina.\n\nQ: Can Alejandro Garnacho still play for Argentina in the future?\nA: Yes. At 22, Garnacho has plenty of time to earn future call-ups. He will need to improve his form at Chelsea to convince Scaloni he deserves a spot.\n\nQ: Who has replaced Di María in Argentina's lineup?**\nA: Scaloni has tried Thiago Almada, Giovani Lo Celso, Julián Álvarez, Nico González, and Alexis Mac Allister in Di María's left-wing position, but none have fully secured the role.
Argentina's depth is still immense: — even without three high-profile attackers, the squad reached the World Cup final, proving the system works.
Di María's legacy is secure: — his decision to stay away from the final shows selfless leadership and respect for the current squad's journey.
Garnacho is one to watch: — if he can regain top form at Chelsea, he could be a regular for Argentina in the next World Cup cycle.
The left-wing position remains unresolved: — this will likely be Scaloni's priority post-tournament as he looks to build for the future.
Argentina supporters: wondering why familiar faces aren't on the pitch
Fantasy football and betting fans: analyzing lineup changes
Younger fans: curious about the transition from the Messi-Di María era to Argentina's next generation
Do you think Argentina has finally found a long-term replacement for Ángel Di María, or is the left-wing position still a major concern? Share your thoughts below!
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