Lionel Scaloni had initially snubbed Correa from the 26-man roster, a decision that made many feel sorry for the San Lorenzo product. At 27, this looked like the right moment for Angel to play in a World Cup.

There was a slimhope he could still play in Qatar, as the Argentine coach included him in the reserve list in case of injury. In the end, his dream finally came true as he was called up to takeJoaquin Correa‘s spot. While it’s not how Angel would have wanted it to happen, it’s still a reward for all the things he pulled through during his life.

Angel Correa’slife story: Tough childhood, heart surgery and last-minuteWorld Cup call-up

Behind the star that caught Diego Simeone‘s eye as a teenager, there’s a person who went through tragedy. Correa still has scars from his tough past, though not all of them are visible. He grew up in Las Flores, a dangerous neighborhood of Rosario, where he lost many of his childhood friends.

Soccer gave Angel away to escape from the drugs and violence of the area, and also allowed him to provide for his family. But tragedy came early in his life, as Correa lost his father when he was only 10. Two years later, his older brotheralso passed away.

Life wasn’t being kind with him, until he joined the San Lorenzo academy. Apart from having four meals and a place to live, Correa found the platform to showcase his talent and develop his potential. It was a matter of time before Correa was promoted to the first team, and it didn’t take long for him to make a difference.

At 18, Angelito had established himself in the starting lineup, playing a pivotal role in San Lorenzo’s 2013 championship. The following year, the continent got to know Correa as he helped the Cuervos win their first ever Copa Libertadores title.

A life-threatening moment

His fantastic rise attractedAtletico Madrid’s interest, but that’s when Correa faced a life or deathsituation. In his medical with the Spanish club, doctors discovered a tumor in a heart ventricle. At only 19, Correa underwent an open heart surgery.

But that didn’t hold him back. Correa went on to sign for Atletico, and only two months later he was training with the team. In February 2015, he led the Argentina U-20s to a South American championship.By the 2015-16 season, he was already a regular in Atleti’s first team. In September 2015, he had his first cap for Argentina. Yes, only a year after the heart operation.

Family tragedy

Unfortunately, life continued to hand him terrible news. In 2017, one of his brothers committed suicide and two years later hissister wasarrested due to ties with drug trafficking.In 2020, he shaved his head to support his mother in her battle with cancer.

Correa let none of those thingsget in his way, reaching new heighs with Atletico as the years went by. He didn’t make the cut for Russia 2018, but his presence in the national team increased after that tournament. Though he didn’t have many opportunities in the starting eleven, Angel has always been there.

Giving it all for the country

He was part of the Copa America winning squad in 2021, and put his life on the line to be inthe 2022 Finalissima.“In June, the wire came out of my chest, but I didn’t say anything to the doctorbecause I wanted to bethere against Italy,“ Correa told TyC Sports. He later had a minor surgery to correct the scar, buttook a huge risk just to be there for his nation.

Angel Correa is a fighter. After everything he went through, it’s hard to believe there’s something he cannot do. Will he help his country reach the promised land in Qatar?Using this World Cup Predictor, you can see every potential outcome of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Angel Correa, 27, was set to miss an important chance after something similar happened to him in the last World Cup, when he was 23 years old. The player born in Rosario began his career at San Lorenzo, a team in which he played for two seasons, before moving on to Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid.

There he continued to grow not so much as a great goal scorer, but rather as a player who made things complicated to defenders and knew how to create spaces and, above all, distribute assists to teammates so that they could score. That’s why it was a big surprise that he was going to missQatar 2022, but now he is going to play his first World Cup.

Why wasn’t Angel Correa called up forQatar 2022 from the start and now he is?

Unlike what happened with his teammate Giovani Lo Celso, who was left out due to injury, Angel Correa didn’t have any physical problems. His absence in Qatar 2022 was due to a decision by coach Lionel Scaloni, who finally left him out of the squad, but now, a few days from Argentina’s debut, he is flying to the hos country to meet his teammates.

After Scaloni decided to left him ut of the 26-man roster, now the coach needed him as soon as possible. Nicolas Gonzalez, Fiorentina’s striker, got injured and it was not possible for him to continue. As a forward, Correa is the perfect substitute, although he is not meant to be a starter for Argentina.

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