Forged in Ligue 1 McDonald's: Argentina's French connections

As Argentina prepare to face England in the semi-final of the FIFA World Cup, we look at the Albiceleste's close links with Ligue 1 McDonald's.

A historic goal made in Ligue 1 McDonald's

There has been a certain French flavour to this Argentina side at the World Cup. Two players linked with France's top-flight combined to make history earlier in the tournament. It was former PSG forward Lionel Messi who scored against Austria to become the leading goal-scorer in World Cup history.

And it was a current Ligue 1 McDonald's player, Marseille's Facundo Medina, who laid it on the plate for Messi, and also former Lyon forward Thiago Almada, who provided the dummy, giving the former PSG man the room to curl home with his left foot. It was a historic goal and one that has the fingerprints of Ligue 1 McDonald's all over it.

It is in France that Medina has made a breakthrough in his career. His form at Lens was what saw him earn a place in the national team and it is also what earned him his move to the Vélodrome last summer. At OM, Medina has often played alongside Leonardo Balerdi, who could also have played a starring role for Argentina this summer, had he not sustained an injury during the build-up to the tournament.

World cup debut for Valentín Barco 😍🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/mDmX744f02
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) June 29, 2026

There is another familiar face in the Argentina defence, nonetheless, in the form of veteran Nicolas Tagliafico. The left-back has over 80 caps for the national team and has been a regular at Lyon since making the move back in 2022. He has made 103 appearances (seven goals, 11 assists) in Ligue 1 McDonald's, becoming a mainstay.

Tagliafico was an ever-present on the international scene well before his arrival in France, but that was not the case for Valentin Barco, who burst onto the scene, but then suffered a dip following his move to Brighton.

It is at Strasbourg that he has got his career back on track and relaunched his international career, too. The 21-year-old was a standout performer, firstly under Liam Rosenior and then Gary O'Neil at the Meinau last season.

The greatest of all time. Leo Messi. 🇦🇷🐐 pic.twitter.com/Ult1pwGBcX
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) June 22, 2026

Barco also impressed in the pre-tournament friendlies, netting twice, although his opportunities have been limited since the start of the World Cup; he has made just one appearance off the bench, to date. He could have been joined in North America by RCSA teammate Joaquin Panichelli, had the prolific goalscorer not sustained an ACL injury on international duty back in March.

As well as Messi, there are another couple of Parisiens at this World Cup: Leandro Paredes and Giovani Lo Celso. The former, now at Boca Juniors, made 117 appearances (three goals, 10 assists) during his four-year spell at the Parc des Princes, whilst the latter made 54 (six goals, nine assists).

The reigning World Champions are looking to retain their title and if they are to do so, it will be Ligue 1 McDonald's stars, past and present, who lead them to it.

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