Forward Paulo Dybala will have to undergo surgery due to a left thigh injury, a piece of news that has caused great concern for both the Argentina national team and his club, AS Roma. The striker's absence comes at a crucial moment in the season and is a setback for coach Lionel Scaloni, who is already dealing with multiple key absences ahead of the South American qualifiers.

Scaloni on Dybala’s Surgery: "The news is very sad, very sad"

During the press conference before the match against Uruguay, Argentina’s head coach Lionel Scaloni expressed his disappointment regarding the player’s situation. "I spoke with him yesterday, and it's very sad news. We had our suspicions when the injury happened, but beyond football, the most important thing is the person," the coach stated from the Lionel Messi training complex in Ezeiza.

Dybala joins a long list of absences for the Albiceleste, which will also be without Lionel Messi, Giovani Lo Celso, Gonzalo Montiel, and Lautaro Martínez for the upcoming matches against Uruguay and Brazil. Additionally, long-term injuries continue to sideline Lisandro Martínez and Valentín Carboni.

Speaking about the Roma forward, Scaloni acknowledged Dybala’s effort and commitment every time he has worn the national team jersey. "He has always given his best when available, and even when he wasn't, he has supported the team. We spoke with him, and he expressed his sadness about missing out. Now, we just hope he recovers quickly," said the coach.

Dybala to Miss the Rest of the Season

The AS Roma attacker sustained the injury last Sunday during the league match against Cagliari, when he attempted a backheel pass and immediately felt severe pain in the back of his left thigh. Despite coming on in the 64th minute, he lasted only 11 minutes before leaving the pitch in tears.

The Italian club confirmed the severity of the injury through an official statement: "Paulo Dybala will undergo surgery in the coming days due to a semitendinosus tendon injury in his left thigh. The player and the club have mutually agreed that this is the best course of action for an optimal recovery. We wish him a speedy recovery—see you soon, Paulo!"

Dybala himself explained his decision to undergo the procedure: "After evaluating the options, I’ve decided to undergo surgery now to return as soon as possible. Even though I'll be away from the pitch for a while, I will continue to support my teammates at Roma and the Argentina national team during this crucial stage of the season."

This setback comes at a difficult time for the forward, as, for the first time since joining Roma in 2022, he had managed to stay relatively injury-free throughout most of the season. Now, both the Italian club and the Albiceleste must find solutions to compensate for his absence in the coming weeks.