Argentina Puts a Suspended Midfielder on Its World Cup Roster and Nobody's Asking Why
Here's a wild one: Argentina just named midfielder Gianluca Prestianni to its preliminary 55-player World Cup roster even though he's already banned from playing in the tournament's first two matches. Yeah, you read that right. A six-game FIFA suspension is hanging over his head for homophobic conduct, and the defending champs still brought him in anyway.
The Suspension That Won't Go Away
Prestianni was originally handed down the ban by UEFA after a Champions League game back in February. Playing for Benfica in Portugal, he allegedly hurled verbal insults at Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior. Here's where it gets messier: Prestianni denied it on social media, claiming he was "misunderstood." But UEFA wasn't buying it, and then FIFA extended the punishment to cover all worldwide sanctioned matches, which means it carries over to World Cup play.
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👉 Claim Your Free $10 at KalshiThe young midfielder just made his Argentina debut in November, so this is still early in his international career. Now he's caught between a preliminary roster spot and sitting out Argentina's opening two games when they'll need their best available players on the field.
Messi's Still a Question Mark
On the flip side, Argentina also included forward Lionel Messi on the preliminary roster, though he still hasn't confirmed he's actually playing in the tournament. At 38 years old, Messi's already a legend after that 2022 World Cup run in Qatar where he scored seven goals, including the opener against France in the Final at the 23-minute mark and the first goal in the penalty shootout after the teams drew 3-3 in regulation.
These days, Messi is Inter Miami's captain in MLS and he's been scorching hot. Nine goals in 11 league matches this season, with 10 goals across all competitions in 15 matches. If he does show up for Argentina, that's a different team entirely.
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.