Since the start of the new year, we have been experimenting with different ads and locations across the Mundo Albiceleste website. And if we are being completely honest, it was time for a permanent change.
We have also been hearing and reading all of your feedbacks and are happy to announce what we believe are significant changes. The number of ads on the website have been reduced (we believe significantly) and ultimately, while the ads do help in keeping up with the maintenance of the website, we still want every one to enjoy viewing and reading the content.
Mundo Albiceleste was built by Argentina fans and for Argentina fans, which is why we believe that should remain the priority and will remain the priority.
Should you have any comments or suggestions, please, do let us know in the comments below or email us at mundoalbiceleste10@gmail.com. Our aim is to continue to improve and to provide more content (which we will continue to be doing and will be introducing new sections throughout the year) than we ever have before. And to aim for quality over quantity.
As always, your feedback is strongly appreciated. Mundo Albiceleste has been around since 2006 and we would not be where we are without the Mundo Albiceleste family.
Paulo Dybala is set to leave AS Roma and could be joining Boca Juniors.
Dybala could become a free agent at the end of the season and leave AS Roma. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, there’s a big chance that Dybala leaves Roma in June 2026 as the club is not thinking about renewing his contract.
The 32 year old has played 10 league matches with AS Roma and was an unused substitute on the bench in their last league match. Boca Juniors midfielder and Dybala’s former team mate at AS Roma and with the Argentina national team, Leandro Paredes flew to Italy to watch AS Roma’s match against Como.
This comes with the rumors of Boca Juniors being interested in signing Dybala if he leaves AS Roma.
Lautaro Martínez scored and assisted for Inter in their 2-1 win against Genoa.
Martínez made it eight goals and three assists in 15 league matches, scoring four goals in his last three games for Inter. With the score at 0-0, the ball was about to go out of play but Lautaro got to it and played a pass to Yann Aurel Bisseck who scored to give Inter the 1-0 lead.
With Inter leading 1-0, Lautaro would dribble inside the penalty area and his effort would beat the goalkeeper as the Argentine would score Inter’s second goal of the match.
Genoa would score one goal and Valentín Carboni would be substituted into the match.
What was expected to be a celebration turned into a major controversy during Lionel Messi’s visit to India as part of the so-called “GOAT Tour.” The Argentine star’s brief appearance at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata sparked anger among fans, leading to disturbances in the stands, damage to the venue, a pitch invasion, and police intervention.
Messi appeared in front of the crowd, walked around the stadium, greeted fans, and left after only a few minutes. Many spectators had expected him to play, even if briefly, and the gap between expectations and what actually happened triggered unrest. Several fans, some of whom had paid tickets costing more than $100, tore out seats, threw bottles onto the field, and entered the pitch, forcing security forces to act.
Hours later, local authorities confirmed the arrest of the main event organizer following a formal complaint. Police in West Bengal demanded a written commitment to refund tickets sold for the event. State police chief Rajeev Kumar explained the situation in a press conference: “There was some anger or anxiety because he was not playing. The plan was that he would come, greet people, meet a few individuals, and leave.”
The situation escalated to the political level. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee issued a public apology on her X account to both Messi and the fans and announced the creation of an investigative committee to determine responsibility for the failed organization of the event.
Messi’s visit was part of the GOAT Tour, a promotional tour across India that also includes stops in Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi. The first stop in Kolkata was also marked by the unveiling of a 21-meter fiberglass statue depicting Messi lifting the 2022 World Cup trophy, a structure that took around 40 days to complete.
This was not Messi’s first time in India. He previously visited the country in 2011 with the Argentina national team, when he played a friendly match against Venezuela and was received with massive enthusiasm from local fans.
Lucas Beltrán scored his first goal for Valencia, but it was not enough to avoid a 2-1 defeat against Atlético de Madrid in Matchday 16 of the 2025–26 LaLiga season. The Argentine forward came off the bench and found the net in the second half at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.
Beltrán entered the match in the 10th minute of the second half and scored eight minutes later. After receiving the ball at the edge of the box, he beat a defender with a quick move and finished with a precise shot into the corner.
Atlético de Madrid featured several Argentine players. Nahuel Molina, Nicolás González, Giuliano Simeone, and Julián Álvarez started the match, while Juan Musso and Thiago Almada were unused substitutes. The result leaves Valencia on 15 points, currently outside the relegation zone on goal difference, while Atlético remain in the top four of the standings.
Baires Grill has become a familiar name for Argentine communities across the United States, not only as a restaurant but also as a meeting point tied closely to national identity, football, and tradition. Founded by Gustavo Abudiab, Natalia Denegri and Martín Koenig, the brand has steadily expanded since its arrival in the U.S. market more than a decade ago and is now preparing for a new phase of growth linked to the Argentine national team and the 2026 World Cup.
“We had only one location in 2014, and now we are close to opening our tenth,” Abudiab said.
For Abudiab, the growth of Baires Grill represents more than business expansion. He sees the brand as a cultural bridge for Argentines living abroad. “For us, it’s a source of pride because, in a way, we are representing our cuisine, our customs, and all our traditions,” he said. “Good asado, good meat, good wine. Mendoza wines are very prominent for us. About 80 percent of our wines are Argentine labels.”
He added that Baires Grill often functions as a cultural outpost. “Basically, I think we are a bit of an embassy outside our country,” Abudiab said. “It really is a joy. Beyond Argentines, we also have many local customers—Latinos and Americans—who become regulars and truly enjoy Argentine gastronomy.”
Photo courtesy of Baires Grill.
The rise of Argentine football’s profile in the United States has also played a role in expanding interest in Argentine food and culture. According to Abudiab, the arrival of Lionel Messi and the recent concentration of major football events have intensified that connection. “I think it fundamentally amplified something that already existed,” he said. “There was already interest. Worldwide, our meat and our wine are very well known. Wherever you travel, people know we have the best meat in the world.”
He pointed to the broader football context as well. “The presence of Messi, plus events like the Copa América, the Club World Cup, the upcoming World Cup, and the Women’s World Cup—all of that created a platform,” Abudiab explained. “Football traditionally wasn’t deeply rooted in American culture, but all of this really boosted interest. Messi and other important players created a real boom and helped people get closer to our culture.”
That cultural connection deepened significantly through Baires Grill’s relationship with the Argentine Football Association (AFA). The partnership traces back to 2022, before the World Cup in Qatar. “Before the World Cup, the AFA came to play a friendly match in Miami,” Abudiab recalled. “They were staying in Fort Lauderdale, they called us, and they came to have dinner at our Fort Lauderdale location on Las Olas Boulevard.”
The restaurant closed to host the entire delegation. “About 90 people came—players, coaching staff, assistants, everyone,” he said. “It became a kind of cabala. After the first match in Qatar, which was a disaster that we couldn’t believe, everything turned around and we ended up becoming world champions.”
Photo courtesy of Baires Grill.
Following that moment, Baires Grill became a frequent gathering place for players, families, and staff. “We always had visits from many of the players, their families, wives, friends,” Abudiab said. “It really became a meeting point, and from there we built a relationship with the AFA.”
That relationship eventually led to Baires Grill becoming the official restaurant of the Argentine national team. “The idea of being the official restaurant of the national team came from that bond,” he explained. “It was finalized earlier this year, after ongoing conversations.”
Looking ahead, the partnership will become even more visible as the 2026 World Cup approaches. “We’re going to have official national team merchandise, everything related to football,” Abudiab said. “Matches will be broadcast live, and there will be many things that connect Argentine customs—good food, good wine—with football, which is our passion.”
Expansion is also a key part of Baires Grill’s future plans. A new location in Orlando is currently under construction and is expected to open in February 2026. “We are in the middle of construction and development,” Abudiab confirmed. The brand also operates a successful location in New York, its first U.S. restaurant.
Photo courtesy of Baires Grill.
Beyond the United States, Baires Grill is preparing to launch in Argentina. “We are working on registering the brand and developing projects in Buenos Aires,” Abudiago said. “We have two projects—one in Puerto Madero and one in the Northeast—and possibly another on the Costanera.”
For Abudiago, returning to Argentina carries symbolic weight. “It’s a dream we didn’t originally plan,” he admitted. “Many Argentines went to the United States to try their luck. We succeeded in the U.S., and now we’re coming back to Argentina. It’s the reverse path—bringing our tradition back to our country.”
He emphasized the scale of the opportunity. “We currently serve more than 800,000 people per year, a large percentage of them Argentine, both locals and tourists,” he explained. “The idea is to connect football and our gastronomy to create something very special.”
While details are still being finalized, Abudiago made the vision clear: “It’s going to be Baires Grill and the national team together. Baires and the Selección.”
