- Emi Buendía could still receive a World Cup call-up for Argentina
- The 29-year-old has been told to continue training to be ready in case he is required
- Nico Paz and Thiago Almada are the players that could be replaced due to injury
Aston Villa playmaker Emi Buendía could receive a stunning late call-up to Argentina’s World Cup squad. Injury concerns have hit the Albiceleste camp forcing a potential change. Buendía has been put on standby in case Paz or Almada are deemed unfit for the tournament.
The 29-year-old No 10 is fresh off an unexpectedly stellar campaign with the Villans, culminating in an unforgettable continental triumph.
Buendía registered 20 goal contributions across all competitions during the 2025/26 season. He saved his finest performance for last by picking up the Man of the Match award in Villa’s spectacular Europa League final victory over SC Freiburg.
Despite maintaining sensational club form under Unai Emery, the former Norwich City star narrowly missed out on Lionel Scaloni’s final 26-man squad after initially being named in the preliminary 55-man selection.
Injury problems in the Argentina camp
The landscape shifted dramatically when injury concerns hit the reigning World Cup champions. Attacking midfielder Nico Paz picked up a knee injury, and Thiago Almada is dealing with severe muscular overload and fatigue.
Faced with the prospect of losing creative assets, DSports reports that Argentina has officially contacted Buendía with an urgent request.
The Villa star has been instructed to cancel his summer holiday plans and maintain his physical preparation. With under two weeks remaining before Argentina’s opening World Cup fixture on June 16, Scaloni is keeping the attacker on high alert as the primary emergency replacement.
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Ultimately, an emergency call-up would be a fully deserved reward for Buendía’s exceptional perseverance and sparkling club form over the past ten months. Despite being allowed to leave last summer, he fought his way back and has been truly oustanding.
Missing the initial cut was undoubtedly a bitter pill to swallow. However, he may now have an opportunity to fulfil his dream of representing his country on the world’s grandest stage.
If either injury forces a change, the resilient Villa playmaker stands perfectly primed to step out of the shadows and make a definitive impact for the reigning champions in the United States. Boarding that flight would cap off a true fairytale year for a player who deserves nothing more.
