Argentinian footballer Germán Pezzella, who recently rejoined River Plate, is the first player from Argentina's 2022 World Cup-winning squad to return to the local league.

More than nine years have passed since the defender last wore the red and white jersey before his transfer to Spain's Real Betis in 2015. Despite his departure, River Plate fans continued to support him in the national team.

Since his debut with the Argentine national team in 2017, Pezzella has played 41 matches and was part of the squads that won the 2021 Copa América in Brazil, the 2022 Finalissima, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and the recent 2024 Copa América in the United States.

The 33-year-old defender's return to River Plate and the Professional League makes him the second World Cup champion currently playing in Argentine football, alongside Franco Armani, River Plate's goalkeeper since 2017 and the third-choice goalkeeper in the Qatar World Cup squad.

Both will be under the guidance of Marcelo Gallardo this season, who has been announced as the new coach of the Núñez club. Gallardo will aim to replicate the success of his first tenure, during which he won 14 titles in eight and a half years (2014-2022).

Homecoming

From the Albiceleste team that won the Qatar 2022 World Cup under Lionel Scaloni, only Armani was playing in the local league. The other 25 members of the "Scaloneta" were part of teams in the Spanish, English, Italian, Portuguese, and French leagues.

Pezzella's arrival marks the first of many anticipated returns, especially from the more experienced members of that team. Some have already expressed their desire to return to the Argentine league, while others have attempted to do so.

The most recent case was that of 36-year-old Ángel Di María, who planned to return this year to his beloved Rosario Central but eventually decided to renew with Portuguese club Benfica. Last week, "Fideo" publicly revealed that this decision was due to threats against him and his family in his hometown of Rosario, stemming from his potential return.

One of the more likely returns was Gonzalo Montiel, who scored the winning penalty in the World Cup final against France. Despite River Plate's interest in bringing him back this season, Montiel will continue in European football for at least another year, specifically with Spain's Sevilla.

Montiel has expressed a clear interest in returning to the local league, as have others like Leandro Paredes, who, despite a good spell at Roma, frequently voices his desire to one day wear Boca Juniors' blue and yellow jersey again.

Other names on this list include Ángel Correa of Atlético Madrid, who stated last year that he would like to play again for both San Lorenzo and Rosario Central, and 32-year-old Marcos Acuña of Sevilla, who said in June that he dreams of returning to Racing Club, where he played from 2014 to 2017.

The ultimate dream for Argentinians is to see Lionel Messi play in the local league. Although the 37-year-old star has hinted throughout his career that he would like to wear the Newell's Old Boys jersey again, the club where he started, he recently stated that his current team, Inter Miami, would be his last.