Facundo Medina

Facundo Medina is an Argentine Left-sided centre-back who plays for Olympique de Marseille in Ligue 1. He started Argentina's 2-0 victory over Austria at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on 22 June 2026, a match in which Lionel Messi scored twice to break the all-time World Cup scoring record. Medina provided the assist for Messi's record-breaking first goal, a composed delivery that created the chance.

Born in Villa Fiorito, Buenos Aires, in 1999 -- the same neighbourhood where Diego Maradona grew up -- Medina's childhood involved working with his family collecting cardboard to help household finances. He came through River Plate's youth system without making a first-team appearance before finding his PATH at Talleres de Cordoba, where 37 appearances earned him a move to Lens in Ligue 1 in 2020. After 131 appearances for Lens, he joined Marseille on loan. He made his senior Argentina debut in 2020 in a World Cup qualifier against Bolivia, and has established himself as a dependable squad option under Lionel Scaloni alongside established centre-backs.

Medina's trajectory from Villa Fiorito to the World Cup carries particular resonance in Argentina. His robust, combative defending and ability to play either as a centre-back or Left-back gives Scaloni tactical flexibility, and his move to a club of Marseille's stature has raised his profile in European football.