India, May 30 -- With the 2026 FIFA World Cup less than two weeks away, the Argentina national team has been handed an injury concern after a key midfielder sustained a knock that could rule him out of the team's two pre-tournament friendlies.

Leandro Paredes, who played a crucial role in Argentina's World Cup-winning campaign and their 2024 Copa America triumph, has reportedly suffered a hamstring tear, according to Argentine journalist Martin Arevalo.

The injury is expected to require around three weeks of recovery, ruling the 31-year-old out of Argentina's two pre-World Cup friendlies against Honduras on June 6 and Iceland on June 9. His availability for the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, however, remains a race against time.

"St...