Injured midfielder Thiago Almada is conducting his rehabilitation program directly with the Argentina national team medical staff despite being ruled out of the upcoming triple-header of friendlies, according to national team reports.
Injury Diagnosis and Recovery Timeline
Medical evaluations confirmed that Almada suffered a Grade 1 tear in his left quadriceps during a match against Huracán. The injury sidelines the 25-year-old midfielder for approximately three weeks. Rather than completing his rehabilitation at his club, Almada remains with the Albiceleste setup to work alongside national team trainers. He is currently limited to light exercise, with training intensity and ball work scheduled to increase gradually.
Impact on Upcoming Fixtures
Almada will miss all three of Argentina’s scheduled international friendlies. The team opens the triple-header against Bolivia on Wednesday, September 30, at 21:00 local time at the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes in Córdoba, operating under a reduced capacity due to an Argentine Football Association sanction. Argentina then faces Burkina Faso in Núñez on Saturday, October 3, at 21:00, before concluding the series against Benin on Tuesday, October 6, at 20:00 at El Monumental in a match featuring Lionel Messi’s national team farewell.
Return to Club Action
Almada is expected to rejoin club training on Wednesday, October 7, immediately following the conclusion of the international fixtures. Upon his return, technical staff led by Leonardo Ponzio will evaluate his fitness to determine his availability for a league fixture against Estudiantes de Río Cuarto on Saturday, October 10. While a return exactly 21 days post-injury is mathematically possible, technical staff may exercise caution to protect the player ahead of a busy fixture schedule toward the end of the year.
