Veteran defender Nicolás Otamendi is expected to return to Argentina’s starting lineup for an upcoming friendly against Puerto Rico in Miami, highlighting his enduring presence despite a recent, rare rest. The 37-year-old central defender was notably benched for Argentina’s previous friendly against Venezuela.
This brief period of rest marked a rare occurrence for Otamendi. He has been a constant fixture for his club, Benfica, during the 2025/26 season, having played every minute of all 15 matches for the Portuguese side.
His exceptional durability is further underscored by data from CIES Football. The organization identified Otamendi as the player with the most minutes on the field globally between September 2024 and September 2025.
Otamendi is known for being among the last players to rejoin Benfica after fulfilling his international duties. For this series of friendlies in the United States, he is joined by Colombian midfielder Richard Ríos, who is also scheduled to play in the U.S. against Canada.