Norberto Briasco Balekian to Miss Armenia’s Matches Against Portugal and Ireland

Armenia national team striker and Argentine club Gimnasia y Esgrima player Norberto Briasco Balekian will be unable to help the national team in the upcoming Nations League matches against Portugal and Ireland.

The 29-year-old forward suffered an injury on August 17 during the Argentine league’s 5th-round match against Lanús. He is currently training individually and will also miss the 7th-round fixture on September 1 against Atlético Tucumán.

Despite the injury, Briasco had earned the trust of Gimnasia’s new head coach Alejandro Orfila, who used the Armenian forward in the last five matches (four of them in the starting lineup) and highly valued his contribution to the team.

Armenia’s head coach Yeghishe Melikyan called up Briasco due to his strong form. The striker had the chance to make his first appearance for the national team since March 2024, when he played in friendlies against Kosovo and the Czech Republic. However, the injury disrupted his return.

See also:

• Norberto Briasco-Balekian delivered one of his best performances for Gimnasia y Esgrima.

• Armenia’s national team has started preparations for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.