Boca Juniors defender Ayrton Costa has been blocked from entering the United States after his visa application was denied twice, reportedly due to past legal issues linked to an attempted robbery case.
The 25-year-old is now set to miss the upcoming Club World Cup, with Boca Juniors declining to disclose official reasons for the visa denial. However, according to Mundo Deportivo, Costa was named in a 2018 attempted robbery case in Argentina, which was classified as “aggravated robbery in a populated area and as a group.” He was granted probation in 2023, avoiding a trial, but the active record continues to affect his visa eligibility.
In addition, Marca reports that Costa was also mentioned in court documents as an accessory in a domestic violence-related murder case involving his brother as the defendant. He was never charged in connection with that case.
Costa had faced a similar visa issue in 2023 during his time with Independiente, although that incident was unrelated to the Club World Cup.
His absence paves the way for veteran defender Marcos Rojo, 35, to step into the starting lineup. Rojo, a former Manchester United player, spent seven years at the English club between 2014 and 2021.
