Leonardo Balerdi

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Balerdi and the second or maternal family name is Rosa.

Leonardo Julián Balerdi Rosa (born 26 January 1999) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Ligue 1 club Marseille, whom he captains, and the Argentina national team.^[3]

Leonardo Balerdi

Balerdi with Marseille in 2024
Personal information
Full name	Leonardo Julián Balerdi Rosa[1]
Date of birth	(1999-01-26) 26 January 1999 (age 26)
Place of birth	Villa Mercedes, Argentina
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Position(s)	Centre-back
Team information
Current team	Marseille
Number	5
Youth career
2005–2013	Sportivo Pueyrredón
2013–2018	Boca Juniors
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2018–2019	Boca Juniors	5	(0)
2019–2020	Borussia Dortmund II	12	(1)
2019–2021	Borussia Dortmund	7	(0)
2020–2021	→ Marseille (loan)	21	(2)
2021–	Marseille	106	(2)
International career‡
2018–2019	Argentina U20	9	(0)
2019	Argentina U23	1	(0)
2019–	Argentina	8	(0)
Medal record Men's football Representing  Argentina South American U-20 Championship 2019 U-20 Team
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 21:56, 17 May 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 03:51, 11 June 2025 (UTC)

Club career

Boca Juniors

Balerdi made his debut for Boca Juniors in the Argentine Primera División starting against Club Atlético Huracán on 27 August 2018.^[4] Although only appearing 5 times for Boca Juniors (a total of 450 minutes on the pitch^[5]), Balerdi's performances took Argentinian football by storm and he has rapidly been hailed^{[by whom?]} as Argentina's best upcoming defender.

Borussia Dortmund

In January 2019, Balerdi agreed to a four-and-a-half-year contract with Borussia Dortmund.^[6] According to several Argentine reports, Dortmund has agreed to pay €15 million for the central defender. An additional €2 million might need to be paid due to agreed add-ons.^[7][8]

Balerdi made his Dortmund and Bundesliga debut on 7 December 2019 against Fortuna Düsseldorf coming onto the pitch as a substitute in the 78th minute.^[9] After a few substitute appearances, Balerdi made his first start against 1899 Hoffenheim in the last Bundesliga fixture of the 2019–20 season. He was substituted in the 65th minute as Dortmund trailed 4–0.^[10]

Marseille

Balerdi in a match against Lens in 2021

In July 2020, Balerdi signed with Olympique de Marseille on a year loan with an option to buy for €15 million.^[11] On 3 July 2021, he joined Marseille permanently, signing a five-year contract with the club.^[12]

At the start of the 2024–25 season, Balerdi extended his contract by 2 more years until 2028, being also promoted as captain of the squad.^[13]

International career

He debuted for the Argentina senior squad on 10 September 2019 in a friendly match against Mexico, replacing Lucas Martínez Quarta in the 83rd minute.^[14]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 17 May 2025

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup[a]		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Boca Juniors	2018–19	Argentine Primera División	5	0	0	0	0	0	—		5	0
Borussia Dortmund II	2018–19	Regionalliga West	4	1	—		—		—		4	1
	2019–20		8	0	—		—		—		8	0
	Total		12	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	12	1
Borussia Dortmund	2019–20	Bundesliga	7	0	0	0	1[b]	0	—		8	0
Marseille (loan)	2020–21	Ligue 1	21	2	1	0	3[b]	0	0	0	25	2
Marseille	2021–22	Ligue 1	17	0	3	0	4	0	—		24	0
	2022–23		35	0	3	0	6[b]	1	—		44	1
	2023–24		27	2	2	0	13[c]	0	—		42	2
	2024–25		27	0	2	0	—		—		29	0
	Total		127	4	11	0	26	1	0	0	164	5
Career total			151	5	11	0	27	1	0	0	189	6

1. Includes Coupe de France
2. Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
3. One appearance in UEFA Champions League, twelve appearances in UEFA Europa League

International

As of match played 10 June 2025^[15]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Argentina
	2019	2	0
	2024	3	0
	2025	3	0
Total		8	0

Honours

Boca Juniors

• Copa Libertadores runner-up: 2018

Marseille

• Trophée des Champions runner-up: 2020

Argentina U17

• South American U-20 Championship runner-up: 2019