Lionel Messi’s last Argentina game ended with one more reminder of what the team is losing. On October 6, 2026, he scored and supplied two assists in a 3-0 win over Benin at the Monumental. One pass set up Nico Paz, already viewed as a possible heir to Argentina’s No. 10 role. Messi finished with 208 appearances and 126 goals. Reuters
Replacing him is not simply about finding another left-footed creator. Messi scored, built attacks and decided tight games. Lionel Scaloni now has several younger options, and those jobs are likely to be divided. Pasted text (2)
Key Highlights
- Nico Paz has emerged as the clearest early candidate for a central creative role.
- Franco Mastantuono, 19, gives Argentina another left-footed attacking option.
- Thiago Almada has already played in Messi’s absence under Scaloni.
- Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez remain the main established finishers.
- Garnacho, Echeverri, Barco and Giuliano Simeone add depth to the younger pool.
Messi’s Farewell Changes the Succession Debate
Argentina reached the 2026 World Cup final and lost 1-0 to Spain after extra time. Messi had eight goals and four assists at the tournament, so his retirement removes a major source of finishing and chance creation. FIFA’s 2026 World Cup final report confirms Spain won through Ferran Torres’ extra-time goal, while Reuters recorded Messi’s tournament numbers. Reuters
The Benin farewell made the next question unavoidable. Reuters’ report from Messi’s final Argentina game noted that Paz, scorer of Argentina’s second goal, is among the players seen as a possible successor for the No. 10 shirt. The symbolic link was clear: Messi supplied the pass, Paz finished it.
Scaloni has also widened the player pool. The AFA’s official 2026 World Cup squad list had already brought Paz and Valentín Barco into the senior tournament group alongside the established core. AFA Official Site
Nico Paz Has the Strongest Early Claim
Paz is 22, left-footed and comfortable between midfield and attack. He travelled to the 2026 World Cup and has since appeared from both central and wider attacking positions, giving Scaloni flexibility without asking him to reproduce Messi’s position exactly. Opta Analyst
Regular club football at Como gives him repeated responsibility in possession, and his profile fits a team that still needs someone to receive between lines and play the final pass.
Why Paz stands out:
- senior World Cup squad experience at 22;
- a natural creative role rather than a pure finishing role;
- enough positional flexibility to operate behind or beside two forwards.
Argentina first needs to see whether he can carry that creative workload against top international opponents over a longer run. One emotional goal in Messi’s farewell cannot settle the debate by itself.
Mastantuono and Almada Offer Different Answers
Franco Mastantuono represents the longer-term option. Born on August 14, 2007, he was 19 when Messi retired. The official Real Madrid profile for Mastantuono lists him in the senior squad after his move from River Plate and records his first-team appearances in Spain. Real Madrid Official
His game begins wider than Paz’s. Argentina may need a winger who can beat a defender and move inside rather than another player trying to occupy Messi’s old spaces.
Thiago Almada is further along. FIFA has highlighted how Scaloni turned to him when Messi was unavailable, including the 2025 World Cup qualifier away to Uruguay. Almada can start centrally or from the left, giving Argentina another route to goal without changing the entire attack.
Argentina’s wider 2026 pool has also included several younger options:
- Alejandro Garnacho for direct wing running.
- Claudio Echeverri as another creative attacker.
- Giuliano Simeone for pressing and movement without the ball.
- Valentín Barco for progression from deeper or wider areas. AFA Official Site
Argentina Will Probably Replace Messi by Committee
There may be no single Messi replacement.
Álvarez and Lautaro already carry proven scoring responsibility. Enzo Fernández and Alexis Mac Allister can take more of the buildup. Paz, Almada or Mastantuono may become the main creator, while wide players give Scaloni other ways to stretch a defence.
Recent squad choices point the same way. The transition has not been built around one teenage saviour. Scaloni has tested younger players around an experienced core instead.
Three details should reveal the new hierarchy fastest: who starts between the lines, who takes the major set pieces, and who receives the ball when Argentina needs a late goal.
For official team updates, AFA identifies the Selección Argentina account on X as its national-team social channel. AFA Official Site
The Next No. 10 Is Only Part of the Story
Paz has the strongest short-term case, Mastantuono carries major long-term promise, and Almada already has evidence of Scaloni trusting him without Messi. Argentina’s harder task is building an attack that does not wait for one player to solve every difficult game.
FAQs
Who is most likely to replace Lionel Messi for Argentina?
Nico Paz is an early creative candidate, although Argentina is more likely to divide Messi’s scoring and playmaking duties across several players rather than name one direct replacement.
Will Nico Paz wear Argentina’s No. 10 shirt?
No permanent decision has been announced. Paz is a leading candidate, but performances, team balance and Scaloni’s tactical plans will decide who eventually takes the famous shirt.
How old is Franco Mastantuono?
Mastantuono was born on August 14, 2007, so he was 19 when Messi ended his Argentina career in October 2026 after the Benin farewell match.
Is Thiago Almada part of Argentina’s post-Messi plans?
Yes. Scaloni has already used Almada in creative roles without Messi, giving him more senior-team experience in that job than several younger attacking prospects.
Who will score Argentina’s goals after Messi?
Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez remain the established finishers, while younger creators such as Paz, Almada and Mastantuono are expected to supply more chances around them.
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