Injured Tottenham star named in Argentina World Cup Qualifiers squad

Tottenham Hotspur defender Cristian Romero has been called up to Argentina’s preliminary squad for their World Cup qualifying matches later in March despite not playing competitively this year.

Romero has been sidelined with a groin injury since he limped off during Spurs’ 4-3 loss at home to Chelsea on December 8.

With Tottenham currently going through a rough phase on the pitch, Romero was spotted training towards the end of January but has yet to return with his recovery described as a “slow-burner” by club manager Ange Postecoglou.

Though Postecoglou recently revealed Romero is close to a comeback, the defender’s inclusion in the preliminary squad for Argentina’s World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay (March 21) and Brazil (March 26) is likely to raise eyebrows.

Speaking last Tuesday, Postecoglou explained how Romero was likely to be available for Sunday’s visit of Bournemouth or next week Europa League last-16 second leg with AZ Alkmaar (March 13), but set to miss the midweek trip to Netherlands for the first leg on Thursday.

Cristian Romero of Argentina plays the ball during the FIFA World Cup 2026 South American Qualifier match between Argentina and Bolivia. (Photo by Daniel Jayo/Getty Images)

“The first European game I’d say outside chance for any three of them,” Postecoglou said of Romero, Micky van de Ven and Dominic Solanke.

“Certainly they’ll be back to training fully by then and then we’ve got Bournemouth on the weekend and I reckon much better odds for that. And definitely, by the second European game they should all be available to play.”

Full Preliminary Squad of 33 Players

Goalkeepers:

Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa)
Gerónimo Rulli (Olympique de Marseille)
Walter Benítez (PSV Eindhoven)

Defenders:

Nahuel Molina (Atlético de Madrid)
Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate)
Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur)
Germán Pezzella (River Plate)
Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique de Marseille)
Juan Foyth (Villarreal)
Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica)
Facundo Medina (RC Lens)
Nicolás Tagliafico (Olympique Lyon)
Francisco Ortega (Olympiakos)

Midfielders:

Leandro Paredes (AS Roma)
Enzo Fernández (Chelsea)
Rodrigo De Paul (Atlético de Madrid)
Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen)
Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool)
Giovani Lo Celso (Olympique Lyon)
Máximo Perrone (Como Calcio)
Giuliano Simeone (Atlético de Madrid)
Benjamín Domínguez (Bologna FC)
Thiago Almada (Olympique Lyon)

Forwards:

Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United)
Nicolás González (Juventus)
Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
Nicolás Paz (Como Calcio)
Claudio Echeverri (Manchester City)
Paulo Dybala (AS Roma)
Julián Álvarez (Atlético de Madrid)
Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan)
Santiago Castro (Bologna FC)
Ángel Correa (Atlético de Madrid)