Facundo Medina in Blue and White

Once upon a time, there was a little boy with just one dream: to play football. Following in the footsteps of Diego Maradona, young Facundo Medina, born in Villa Fiorito, the working-class neighborhood of Buenos Aires that also saw the birth of his idol, kicked his first balls at the age of three. Alongside that, he helped his family, worked, and got involved. But whenever he had the chance, he went back to his ball, holding on to that quiet dream of a different life, led by passion and the joy of the game.

His family encouraged, supported, and accompanied him. His mother, a quiet yet central pillar in his life, wiped away his tears when football took him away from home when he was 11 years old and the dream began to take shape: the call from River Plate. After a successful trial, Facundo joined the youth academy of his beloved club. He realized then that he had taken the first big step from neighborhood pitches to the institution he had always admired.

He progressed quickly: hardworking, technical, with an excellent left foot, able to carry the ball, cross, and shoot. At River, he trained with the first team, but it was with CA Talleres that he made his professional debut. On August 12, 2018, he played his first match… against Boca Juniors, River’s historic rival. A twist of fate. His talent didn’t go unnoticed: he was called up to the Argentina U20 national team.

February 25, 2020, marked another important step in his career: his first professional goal, against Huracán. A big moment of joy! More goals would follow, this time on the other side of the Atlantic. Farther from home? Not really, because his family remained close-knit, never leaving him. His mother stood by him at every step. She was his strength, his support, throughout a journey where you always have to keep fighting. The key was his strong personality, evident since childhood, when he said no to the first dangers that came his way.

The summer of 2020 marked his arrival in France, at RC Lens. He made his Ligue 1 debut on August 23 against OGC Nice. His progression was fast and steady. He became a key player in the Sang et Or defense. During the 2022–2023 season, he helped make Lens the best defense in the league, finishing second earning them a place in the Champions League.

On and off the field, Facundo asserted himself as a leader. His fighting spirit, strong personality, and technical quality made him a valuable player, capable of playing both on the left flank, where he can use his passing range and crosses, and as a central defender.

On September 20, 2023, he played his first Champions League match, a doubly symbolic date, as it was also his 100th appearance in a Lens shirt. He leaves the club with 165 matches, 8 goals, and 10 assists, leaving behind great memories. The year 2025 marks a new stage in his career: on June 11, he started for Argentina against Colombia. Lionel Scaloni placed his trust in him, using him in three of the last four World Cup qualifiers.

Today, a new chapter begins.

Welcome to OM, FM.

𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗼 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲 & 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗳𝘂𝗹 🔵⚪️

The Argentine defender 🇦🇷 joins Olympique de Marseille from RC Lens 🔥pic.twitter.com/ASI8qYczsM

— Olympique de Marseille 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 (@OM_English) July 2, 2025