Leonardo Balerdi

Leonardo Balerdi is an Argentine centre-back who captains Olympique de Marseille in Ligue 1, having risen through European football to become one of the French league's leading defenders. Commanding in the air and comfortable on the ball, he joined Marseille permanently in 2021 and was named club captain in 2024.

Balerdi developed at Sportivo Pueyrredón and Boca Juniors before Borussia Dortmund signed him in January 2019 for approximately €15 million. Limited to bench appearances in the Bundesliga, he joined Marseille on loan in 2020 and the transfer was made permanent in 2021.

He has since become a cornerstone of Marseille's defence, extending his contract through 2028 and being handed the captain's armband in 2024. He has earned 11 senior caps for Argentina since making his international debut.