Why Paulo Dybala Isn’t Featuring for Argentina?
Why Was Dybala Left Out of Argentina’s 2026 World Cup Qualifiers?
Paulo Dybala, an immensely gifted and prolific forward, has been notably absent from recent matches with the Argentine national team.
What factors contribute to his non-participation?
Why was Dybala omitted from the 2026 World Cup qualifier selection?
In this piece, we delve into these questions, shedding light on Dybala’s current situation.
Who is Paulo Dybala?
Paulo Dybala is an Argentine professional footballer, plying his trade as an attacking midfielder or winger for Serie A’s Roma, as well as the Argentine national squad.
Renowned for his exceptional dribbling, swift footwork, and a keen eye for goal, Dybala was affectionately dubbed “La Joya” (“The Jewel”) during his prime.
He commenced his senior club career in 2011 with Instituto de Córdoba, before joining Palermo in 2012 at the age of 18, where he secured a Serie B title.
Dybala’s 2015 move to Juventus resulted in five league titles and four Coppas Italia.
He clinched Serie A’s Most Valuable Player once and earned a spot in the Serie A Team of the Year four times.
As of 2022, he stands as Juventus’ ninth highest all-time goalscorer.
In 2022, he made the move to Roma.
Dybala made his debut with the Argentine national team in 2015 at just 21 years old.
Since then, he’s amassed over 30 caps, including appearances in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, 2019 Copa América, and the 2022 World Cup, where he clinched victory.
Presently, he ranks as Argentina’s third highest active goalscorer with three goals, trailing only Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martínez.
Si conclude qui una stagione bellissima, piena di emozioni, con una squadra una società e uno staff eccezionale, i tifosi che mi hanno fatto rimanere di stucco dal primo giorno che sono arrivato fino a stasera, non ci sono parole per quello che avete fatto per me e per voi… pic.twitter.com/LH5U2ouA2y
— Paulo Dybala (@PauDybala_JR) June 4, 2023
Paulo Dybala’s Age
Paulo Dybala was born in Laguna Larga, Cordoba, Argentina, on November 15, 1993.
His full name is Paulo Exequiel Dybala. He is presently 28 years old.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CvPylixq4OC/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Argentina
Argentina, a South American nation, boasts a rich footballing heritage and culture.
The Argentina national football team represents the country in international men’s football, overseen by the Argentine Football Association, the sport’s governing body in Argentina.
Often called La Albiceleste (‘The White and Sky Blue’), they’re the reigning world champions, securing their third star, as seen on the team’s crest, in the 2022 World Cup.
Overall, Argentina has made it to the World Cup final six times, a record equaled by Italy and surpassed only by Brazil and Germany.
Their inaugural final appearance occurred in 1930, resulting in a 4–2 loss to Uruguay.
The subsequent final, 48 years later in 1978, witnessed the team led by Daniel Passarella triumph over the Netherlands 3–1 in extra time, clinching their first world championship.
Argentina also holds the distinction of being the most successful team in South America, clinching a record 15 Copa América titles.
They’ve also seized two Olympic gold medals (in 2004 and 2008) and one FIFA Confederations Cup (in 1992).
Argentina is renowned for its intense rivalries with Brazil, Uruguay, England, Germany, and the Netherlands.
As of 2023, Argentina boasts the record for most official titles won by a men’s national team, tallying up to 22.
On an individual basis, Argentine players have secured six FIFA Ballons d’Or awards (Lionel Messi five times and Alfredo Di Stéfano once), a feat surpassed by only Portugal (Cristiano Ronaldo five times).
#Futsal La Selección #Sub20 se encuentra en territorio de Sudamericano y ya se entrenó en Venezuela 🌎
🔜 El domingo, debut ante Uruguay 🇺🇾
📺 Y lo vas a ver por @DSports y @canaldeportv 😎
💪 ¡Vamos nosotros! 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/5JWJW7NPi2
— 🇦🇷 Selección Argentina ⭐⭐⭐ (@Argentina) September 9, 2023
Why Paulo Dybala is Absent from Argentina?
In spite of his prowess and accomplishments at the club level, Dybala has been conspicuously absent from recent Argentine matches.
Several factors contribute to his omission from the national team.
Firstly, injuries have plagued Dybala. Over the past few years, he’s battled various injuries that have impacted his form and physical condition.
His knee injury necessitated surgery, resulting in him missing the majority of the 2020–21 season with Juventus.
Additionally, a hamstring injury sidelined him for several weeks leading up to the World Cup in Qatar. Although he recuperated in time to join the squad, he did not see any playtime in Qatar so far.
It’s evident that tactical considerations are at play in his limited minutes with Argentina, and his prior hamstring injury before the tournament could be another contributing factor.
Another factor is his synergy with Lionel Messi.
Dybala’s preferred playing position aligns closely with Messi’s, who has not missed a minute of the tournament thus far.
Scaloni seems to lean towards fielding a more conventional number nine to lead the line, potentially making it challenging for Dybala to secure a prominent role.
Dybala himself acknowledged the difficulty of playing alongside Messi, as their styles and movements mirror each other.
He remarked in 2017:
“It’s not easy to play with Messi because we play the same way. I’ve been lucky enough to play with him. It was hard to adapt to each other’s game at first.”
A third element is Dybala’s inconsistency and confidence levels with Argentina.
He has struggled to replicate his club form with the national team, amassing just three goals in 38 appearances.
Criticism has often been directed at his underwhelming performances and limited impact with Argentina, particularly in major tournaments.
He was part of the squads that endured losses in the 2016 and 2019 Copa América finals, as well as the 2018 World Cup round of 16.
Furthermore, he was left out of crucial matches by different coaches, including Jorge Sampaoli, who did not include him in the starting lineup for any of the 2018 World Cup games.
Dybala openly admitted to feeling heightened pressure and diminished freedom when playing for Argentina, stating in 2018:
“I feel that there’s a lot of pressure on me and sometimes I can’t deal with it. I feel like I’m not given enough space to show what I can do and that’s why sometimes I don’t play as well as I do at Juventus.”
Paulo Dybala dropped from Argentina squad due to genital problems https://t.co/9evxJGcszx
— The Sun Football ⚽ (@TheSunFootball) November 10, 2020
Why Dybala Wasn’t Picked for the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers?
Dybala faced a recent setback when he was left out of Argentina’s squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in March 2023.
Scaloni unveiled a 26-man roster that didn’t include Dybala, despite his return from injury and scoring two goals for Roma in February.
Scaloni clarified his decision, stating that Dybala hadn’t fully recovered and needed more time to reach his peak form.
He explained:
“We spoke with Paulo and we agreed that he still needs to regain his top form after a prolonged absence. He’s a valuable player for us, but we want him at 100%. We’ll monitor his progress and hope he can rejoin us soon.”
Nonetheless, reports emerged suggesting that Dybala’s exclusion wasn’t solely based on physical considerations.
According to Argentine journalist Martín Liberman, Scaloni had concerns about Dybala’s attitude and dedication to the national team, as well as his perceived lack of leadership and assertiveness on the field.
Liberman stated that Scaloni had lost confidence in Dybala and favored other options like Ángel Di María, Julián Álvarez, Nicolás González, and Lucas Beltran.
He remarked:
“Scaloni no longer has faith in Dybala. He acknowledges he’s a great player but believes he hasn’t demonstrated it with Argentina. He lacks the character and charisma to be a leader or a reference for the team. He’s consistently overshadowed by Messi or others. Scaloni seeks players who are hungry, who fight, who run, who give their all for the shirt. Dybala doesn’t fit that mold.”
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/nc_dVVSERB4
Conclusion
Paulo Dybala is undeniably a world-class player, showcasing his prowess and talent at the club level.
Nevertheless, his absence from recent Argentine matches is attributed to various factors.
These include his history of injuries, his playing style’s compatibility with Messi, his challenges in replicating club form with the national team, and his non-inclusion in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers squad by Scaloni.
Dybala still has the opportunity to reclaim his form, regain his place, and earn trust in the national team.
This, however, demands dedication, determination, and an unwavering passion to unlock his potential with Argentina.
