Malaysia naturalized player sparks debate over heritage claim

Spanish outlet El Correo reported on Aug. 16 that Garces had received an invitation to play for Malaysia.

"I knew about my origin, but I never thought this possibility could happen. The Malaysia national team said they were building an interesting project, which made me very excited," Garces told the newspaper.

However, El Correo used the Spanish word "bisabuelo", which means "great-grandfather," to cite Garces' statement about his Malaysian heritage. This sparked debate, as FIFA rules only allow players to represent a country if their parents or grandparents were citizens or born there. Eligibility through a great-grandparent is not accepted.

Facundo Garces plays in Malaysia's 4-0 win over Vietnam in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, at Bukit Jalil Stadium, Malaysia on June 10, 2025. Photo by Malaysia NT

Under FIFA regulations, only direct parental or grandparental lineage counts. If Garces' connection to Malaysia were truly through a great-grandparent, his eligibility would be invalid.

Amid the growing debate, Garces addressed the issue on Instagram.

"It was just a translation error. I am Malaysian by blood from my grandfather. I'm honored to play for the Malaysia national team. See you soon," he wrote.

However, questions still linger about the exact details of his heritage.

FIFA had overlooked certain cases, such as Timor Leste's use of 12 ineligible Brazilian players between 2011 and 2016. The governing body has since tightened its rules, requiring full documentation and applying heavy penalties for violations.

Garces made 129 appearances for Argentine club Colon before signing a 3.5-year deal with La Liga side Deportivo Alaves in August 2024, effective January 2025. The 1.88 m defender played 10 matches in La Liga last season before debuting for Malaysia in June 2025, helping the team beat Vietnam 4-0 in Asian Cup qualifiers. Coach Peter Cklamovski praised him for combining strength with composure and bringing top-level experience to the team.

At 26, Garces is expected to play a key role as Malaysia push toward the 2027 Asian Cup. The team currently lead Group F in the qualifiers with six points, three clear of Vietnam and Laos. Friendly matches against Singapore and Palestine are set for September, followed by crucial qualifying matches against Laos, Nepal and Vietnam.

Malaysia squad feature around 15 players of mixed-heritage, including Imanol Machuca, Rodrigo Holgado, Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal, Hector Hevel, Matthew Davies and Dion Cools, along with three naturalized players: Endrick, Paulo Josue and Romel Morales.