Tomás Aranda breaks fibula, out for rest of 2026

It was a warmup rondo, the kind players run through every day without thinking about anything beyond loosening up. Then, out of nowhere, his studs caught in the turf. No collision, no contact, just bad luck, and Boca lost one of its most important players: Tomás Aranda suffered a fracture of the fibula in his right leg and will not play again for the rest of 2026.

The news broke at the worst possible moment, right before the match against Lanús in the 2026 Torneo Clausura. Diego Monroig reported it on ESPN F12: the young midfielder went down in visible pain during practice, was examined immediately, and the fracture was confirmed, though fortunately the tibia was not affected. Surgery is still required, though. Recovery from this type of injury usually takes three to six months, so if everything progresses well, Aranda could be available again for preseason training in January 2027.

It's a major blow for Boca, which still has plenty ahead of it: the round of 16 in the Copa Argentina and the quarterfinals of the Copa Sudamericana, on top of the Clausura title race. Losing a player who had earned his starting spot through talent and playmaking ability is no small thing, and Rodolfo Arruabarrena is already working through how to fill that void.

The Vasco's options to replace him

The most obvious option appears to be Alan Velasco, who has been growing into his role since Arruabarrena arrived and whose insertion wouldn't require major tactical adjustments. Another option, more medium term, is the return of Chilean midfielder Palacios, currently out of the picture but capable of reclaiming ground as the kind of playmaker the team grew used to having in Aranda. A shift in formation is also on the table: Sebastián Villa and Leonel Flores as wingers, a lone striker (Miguel Merentiel), and three midfielders behind him. A 4-4-2 seems less likely, but nobody is ruling it out if the game calls for it.

In the meantime, Arruabarrena has already made one concrete move: he called up Lautaro Bianco to the first team, a reserve-squad youngster who plays the same position as Aranda. Born in Morón in 2007 and signed to a contract in the middle of last year, "Chicle," as he's known in the youth ranks, stands out for his dribbling and his shot from distance. He already showed a glimpse of his ability in the 3-2 win over Estudiantes de La Plata in the Torneo Proyección, and he has been training with the first team since Saturday with an eye toward getting minutes soon.

Support from the locker room

Beyond the soccer side of things, what stood out on social media was the warmth shown by the group. Captain Leandro Paredes was among the first to write to him: "Stay strong, Joya. We're all with you," and Aranda replied, "Thank you, captain."

Stay strong, Joya. We're all with youLeandro Paredes

Messages also came in from Leonel Flores ("Stay strong, brother"), Milton Delgado ("We're with you, my brother"), and Lautaro Di Lollo ("Stay strong, brother, we're with you"). Aranda answered Flores with a simple "Thanks, my brother." It was a tough day for Boca's number 10, who will now have to focus on his recovery while his teammates try to keep the team's level up without him.