Argentine national team forward Joaquín Panichelli suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear in his right knee during training at Ezeiza and will miss the 2026 World Cup. He posted an emotional letter on social media expressing frustration and resolve. He received support from teammates, the AFA, and his family.
Joaquín Panichelli, a forward playing for Racing de Estrasburgo and closely watched by Lionel Scaloni, was injured during a training session with the Argentine national team at Ezeiza ahead of the friendly against Mauritania. The diagnosis confirmed a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, with recovery estimated at six to eight months, ruling him out of the 2026 World Cup.
In a letter posted on social media, Panichelli shared his pain: “A veces no entiendo bien cómo funciona esto de la meritocracia o las injusticias, se suele correr la línea bastante seguido según la conveniencia de la situación. Pero estoy seguro de que si hablamos de merecimientos, esto no se lo merece nadie” (Sometimes I don't understand how this meritocracy or injustices work, the line shifts often according to convenience. But if we're talking merits, no one deserves this). He added: “Hoy me toca vivir uno de los momentos más duros de mi vida, con muchos objetivos a la vuelta de la esquina” (Today I'm living one of the hardest moments of my life, with many goals just around the corner). Recalling a similar injury in 2023 while at Deportivo Alavés, he ended positively: “La vida me debe sueños por cumplir. Y no me los va a regalar, me los voy a trabajar. Como siempre hice. A vivir que son 2 días. Gracias por todas las muestras de cariño” (Life owes me dreams to fulfill. It won't give them to me, I'll work for them. As I always have. Live because there are only 2 days. Thanks for all the affection).
The Argentine national team sent a message of support, as did teammates and close ones. His father, Germán Panichelli, wrote: “Siempre con vos Joaco querido. Y en las malas mucho más. Te verán volver” (Always with you Joaco dear. And in the bad times even more. They will see you return). An initial report mentioned the left knee, but detailed confirmation specifies the right.
