Argentinian Fernando Zampedri called up to the Chilean national team

Fernando Zampedri, a 37-year-old Argentinian forward, has been called up by Ricardo Gareca for the Chilean national team ahead of the upcoming double matchday in the South American Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. Although born in Entre Ríos, Argentina, Zampedri became a Chilean citizen after several seasons living in the country, where he became the all-time top scorer for Universidad Católica with 121 goals.

His call-up, reported by TyCSports.com, is a surprise to many and comes as a reward after a successful career in Chilean football. Before shining in Chile, Zampedri made his mark in Argentina's lower leagues, wearing the jerseys of Guillermo Brown, Boca Unidos, and Juventud Unida, among others. His talent led him to the Primera División in 2016 to join Atlético Tucumán, where he experienced memorable nights like the historic qualification to the Copa Libertadores group stage in 2017. Later, he won the Copa Argentina in 2018 with Rosario Central, establishing himself as an effective and tenacious striker. This title allowed him to make the leap to Los Cruzados, a major force in Chilean football, in 2020.

• Bayer - Bayern: when and where to watch the UEFA Champions League match online on March 11

Zampedri joins a long list of Argentinians who have donned the La Roja jersey. Among the most recent and notable cases are Gabriel Arias, a goalkeeper and key figure at Racing, and Luciano Cabral, a midfielder at Independiente. Further back in time, names such as Gustavo Canales, a former Unión Española and Universidad de Chile forward, or Pablo Hernández, a Tucumán midfielder remembered for his stints at Celta de Vigo and Independiente, stand out.