Facundo Medina: Age, Club, Career and Argentina Journey

Introduction

Facundo Medina is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a defender for Bayer 04 Leverkusen and the Argentina national team. Born on 28 May 1999 in Villa Fiorito, Argentina, he developed at River Plate before building his senior career with Talleres, RC Lens, Olympique de Marseille and Bayer Leverkusen.

As of August 2026, Medina is 27 years old and wears the No. 2 shirt for Bayer Leverkusen. He joined the German Bundesliga club in August 2026 after spending the previous season with Marseille.

His career has also grown at international level. The left-footed defender represented Argentina at youth level, played at the Tokyo Olympics and later became part of the senior national team. He was included in Argentina’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where the country reached the final.

For readers searching his name, the biggest current update is simple: Medina now plays for Bayer Leverkusen and is contracted to the German club until June 2031.

Quick Facts

Fact	Details
Full name	Facundo Axel Medina
Known as	Facundo Medina
Date of birth	28 May 1999
Age	27 years old, as of August 2026
Birthplace	Villa Fiorito, Argentina
Nationality	Argentine
Profession	Professional footballer
Main position	Centre-back
Other position	Left-back
Preferred foot	Left
Height	1.84 m
Current club	Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Shirt number	2
Joined Bayer Leverkusen	August 2026
Current contract	Until June 2031
National team	Argentina
Former European clubs	RC Lens, Olympique de Marseille
Former Argentine club	Talleres
Youth development	River Plate
2026 World Cup result	Runner-up with Argentina

Who Is Facundo Medina?

Facundo Axel Medina is a professional Argentine football defender known for playing mainly on the left side of defence.

He can operate as a centre-back or left-back. This gives coaches more options when changing defensive formations during a match.

His football journey began in Argentina, but most of his senior career has developed in Europe. France became an especially important part of his progress because he spent five seasons with RC Lens before moving to Marseille.

In 2026, his career entered another stage when Bayer Leverkusen signed him for the Bundesliga.

Early Life and Football Development

Medina was born in Villa Fiorito, an area in the Buenos Aires region of Argentina.

Football became part of his life at a young age. He entered the River Plate youth academy when he was around 12 years old and spent several years developing inside one of Argentina’s best-known football systems.

His early years were not built around fame or comfort. He has publicly spoken about helping members of his family collect recyclable cardboard while growing up.

That background became part of the story behind his rise into professional football.

At River Plate, he progressed through the youth system and played at reserve level. However, he did not become an established first-team player there.

A move to Talleres eventually gave him the opportunity to begin playing regular senior football.

How Did His Professional Career Begin?

In January 2018, Medina joined Talleres, a professional club based in Córdoba, Argentina.

The transfer was important because it gave the young defender a clearer route into senior football.

Across the 2018/19 and 2019/20 seasons, he made 37 official appearances in all competitions for Talleres.

His performances also helped him gain recognition within Argentina’s national youth setup.

During this period, he represented his country at the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup and later played for Argentina’s under-23 team.

He was part of the squad that won the 2020 South American Pre-Olympic Tournament, an achievement that helped Argentina qualify for the Olympic Games.

Move to RC Lens

The biggest early change in Facundo Medina’s career came in July 2020, when he left Argentina and joined French club RC Lens.

Moving to Ligue 1 meant adapting to a new country, league and football culture.

He quickly became an important member of the Lens defence.

Over five seasons, the Argentine made 165 appearances in all competitions for the French club.

One of his most memorable early moments came when he scored an overhead-kick goal against Lorient during his first season.

However, his Lens career became significant for more than individual goals.

The 2022/23 Lens Season

Lens produced an outstanding Ligue 1 campaign in 2022/23.

The team finished second in the French league with 84 points and conceded only 29 league goals.

That result earned Lens a place in the UEFA Champions League.

For Medina, it meant the opportunity to compete at the highest level of European club football.

Champions League Experience

On 20 September 2023, Medina reached two career milestones on the same night.

He made his UEFA Champions League debut against Sevilla and also recorded his 100th appearance for Lens.

Later in that Champions League campaign, he was part of the Lens team that defeated Arsenal 2-1 in France.

His performances and continued importance to the squad led Lens to extend his contract in April 2024.

By this stage, he had developed from a promising South American defender into an experienced European-level player.

Marseille Move

After five seasons at Lens, the defender moved to Olympique de Marseille in July 2025.

He joined Marseille for the 2025/26 campaign and continued competing in both French and European football.

During the season, he made 26 appearances in all competitions.

His time in Marseille also included UEFA Champions League football.

Although his stay at the club was shorter than his Lens spell, it became another important stage before his move to Germany.

Where Does Facundo Medina Play Now?

As of August 2026, Facundo Medina plays for Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the German Bundesliga.

The club announced his signing on 11 August 2026.

He received the No. 2 shirt and signed a contract running until 30 June 2031.

The move brought him into another of Europe’s major domestic leagues after several seasons in France.

Bayer Leverkusen recruited him as a defender capable of playing centrally or on the left.

His arrival also reunited him with Argentine midfielder Exequiel Palacios, whom he knew from their earlier time in River Plate’s football system.

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Argentina National Team Career

Medina represented Argentina at several age levels before becoming a senior international.

His senior Argentina debut came on 13 October 2020 against Bolivia during qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

He also represented his country at the Tokyo Olympic football tournament.

One memorable Olympic moment came against Egypt, when he scored the only goal in Argentina’s 1-0 victory.

His role in the senior squad became more important as his European career developed.

Facundo Medina at the 2026 World Cup

One of the biggest achievements of his career came at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Argentina selected him as part of its 26-player squad.

He appeared in five of Argentina’s eight matches at the tournament and started three of them.

Against Austria, he provided the pass that was officially recorded as an assist for Lionel Messi’s opening goal in Argentina’s 2-0 victory.

The national team continued through the tournament and reached the final.

Medina came on during the 2026 World Cup final against Spain, replacing Cristian Romero.

Spain won the match 1-0, meaning Argentina finished as World Cup runners-up.

Even without another title for Argentina, reaching a World Cup final represented one of the most important moments of Medina’s international career.

What Position Does He Play?

His natural role is in defence.

The Argentine is mainly used as a centre-back, but he is also comfortable playing at left-back.

Because he is left-footed, he can be particularly useful on the left side of a defensive line.

His positional flexibility allows a team to use him in a traditional back four or as part of a three-player central defence.

At 1.84 metres tall, he also brings physical presence while remaining capable of moving into wider areas.

Why Did Bayer Leverkusen Sign Him?

Bayer Leverkusen’s decision to bring him to Germany followed several years of high-level experience.

Before joining the Bundesliga, he had already played:

• More than 160 matches for Lens
• Ligue 1 football in France
• UEFA Champions League matches
• Senior international football for Argentina
• Olympic football
• A FIFA World Cup final

This meant Bayer were signing a defender with experience across different competitions rather than a player still waiting for his first major opportunity.

His ability to cover more than one defensive position also adds flexibility to the squad.

Major Career Milestones

2018

Joined Talleres and began establishing himself in senior professional football.

2019

Represented Argentina at the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

2020

Helped Argentina win the South American Pre-Olympic Tournament, joined RC Lens and made his senior international debut.

2021

Represented Argentina at the Tokyo Olympics and scored against Egypt.

2022/23

Helped Lens finish second in Ligue 1 and qualify for the Champions League.

2023

Made his Champions League debut and reached 100 appearances for Lens.

2024

Signed a Lens contract extension.

2025

Moved to Olympique de Marseille.

2026

Reached the FIFA World Cup final with Argentina and later joined Bayer Leverkusen.

Interesting Facts About Facundo Medina

• He grew up in Villa Fiorito, the same Buenos Aires-area community strongly associated with Diego Maradona.
• He joined River Plate’s youth system when he was about 12.
• He has spoken publicly about collecting recyclable cardboard with his family during childhood.
• His Champions League debut was also his 100th match for RC Lens.
• He scored the winning goal for Argentina against Egypt at the Tokyo Olympics.
• He assisted Lionel Messi during Argentina’s 2026 World Cup victory over Austria.
• Before joining Bayer Leverkusen, he had already played professional football in Argentina and France.
• His current Bayer Leverkusen contract runs until 2031.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Facundo Medina?

He was born on 28 May 1999, making him 27 years old as of August 2026.

Where was he born?

He was born in Villa Fiorito, Argentina.

Which club does Facundo Medina play for?

As of August 2026, he plays for Bayer 04 Leverkusen in Germany.

What shirt number does he wear?

He wears the No. 2 shirt for Bayer Leverkusen.

What position does he play?

He mainly plays as a centre-back, although he can also operate as a left-back.

Did he play for Marseille?

Yes. He spent the 2025/26 season with Olympique de Marseille before joining Bayer Leverkusen.

Did he play for RC Lens?

Yes. Lens was a major part of his European career. He played 165 matches in all competitions for the club across five seasons.

Does he play for Argentina?

Yes. He is a senior Argentina international and represented the national team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Did he play in the 2026 World Cup final?

Yes. He came on as a substitute during Argentina’s final against Spain.

When does his Bayer Leverkusen contract end?

His current contract runs until 30 June 2031.

Final Overview

Facundo Medina’s journey has taken him from the River Plate youth system and Talleres in Argentina to major European clubs in France and Germany.

Lens gave him the platform to establish himself in European football, while Marseille added another season of domestic and Champions League experience.

His international career has developed alongside his club progress. After representing Argentina at youth and Olympic level, he became a senior international and helped the country reach the 2026 World Cup final.

As of August 2026, his next chapter is with Bayer Leverkusen, where he is contracted until 2031.

For readers searching for his current club, age, position or Argentina career, the key facts are clear: he is a 27-year-old Argentine defender, a World Cup runner-up and an active Bayer Leverkusen player.