San Lorenzo striker Franco Di Santo (FDS) tasted national team football for the first time in Argentina when he was called up to the u-20 team several years ago. In 2006, Di Santo played his first match for the Argentina u-20 team and his debut goal for his side came against France. Franco Di Santo was part of the Argentine u-20 squad to the 2007 South American Youth Championship which was hosted by Paraguay.
Brazil emerged as the champions at the end of the 2007 South American Youth Championship in Paraguay after finishing two points ahead of Argentina. By the time he was called up to the Argentina squad for the 2009 South American Youth Championship in Venezuela, the striker has signed for Chelsea from Chilean club AudaxItaliano. Franco Di Santo was not given the permission to represent his country in Venezuela mainly due to the injury crisis at the club. During a three-year period between 2006 and 2009, Franco Di Santo scored five times in 25 games for the u-20 team.
In 2012, the late Alejandro Sabella extended an invitation to Franco Di Santo. He was called up to the Argentine senior team ahead of the international friendly against Saudi Arabia. Franco Di Santo was in the Argentina squad that faced Saudi Arabia in a friendly on November 14, 2012.
Di Santo didn't earn another invitation to the Argentina squad until two years later. The San Lorenzo player was a surprise inclusion in the 30-man provisional squad ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup tournament in Brazil. He was cut from the list by Sabella and his coaching staff when it was reduced to 26. Franco Di Santo missed out on the tournament in Brazil as Argentina went all the way to the final before they were stopped by Germany. The Argentines were beaten 1-0 by their final opponents at the end of extra time.