Argentina’s life after Lionel Messi begins with two familiar faces from Serie A in the frame. Nico Paz of Como and Fiorentina’s Franco Mastantuono are part of Lionel Scaloni’s first squad of the post-2026 World Cup period, carrying their own ambitions while Messi prepares for one final appearance in the white and sky-blue shirt.
Argentina turn the page after Messi
- Messi’s international farewell followed Argentina’s run to the 2026 World Cup final, a campaign that ended in disappointment despite the team’s strong progress through the tournament.
- Scaloni’s first match without Messi will be a friendly against Bolivia, scheduled for the night between Wednesday and Thursday.
- Argentina will then return to the Monumental on 6 October to face Benin, when Messi is due to wear the No. 10 shirt one last time.
The Monumental occasion will close a remarkable chapter for the player who inherited Argentina’s most symbolic number after Diego Maradona. Scaloni has already made clear that the succession cannot be treated as a search for a replica. “There will not be another Messi,” the Argentina coach said.
Yet the national side must now find its own way forward, and the No. 10 shirt will inevitably become part of that discussion. Paz and Mastantuono are among the most intriguing members of the new generation, linked not only by their nationality but also by their paths through Real Madrid and, now, Serie A.
Como and Fiorentina supply two candidates
Paz has spent the past two seasons developing into Como’s central creative figure. His influence helped the club reach the Champions League for the first time in its history, convincing the Hartono family’s ownership to commit €60 million for his permanent transfer from Real Madrid.
The 21-year-old was already in Argentina’s World Cup group alongside Messi, although he played only 71 minutes across the tournament. At Como, he has shown he can operate from the right in attacking positions or as a conventional attacking midfielder, giving Scaloni options as the side adjusts to a different attacking reference point.
Mastantuono’s route has been faster. The Fiorentina player arrived in the summer on a straight loan, with his return to Madrid already planned for next year. He has nevertheless made an immediate impression in Florence and across the league.
He had already made an important piece of Argentina history in September 2025 against Ecuador, becoming the youngest player to wear the national team’s No. 10 shirt. At club level he wears No. 30, the number he also had at River Plate and Real Madrid.
The Monumental is meaningful territory for Mastantuono. During his River spell, he scored a memorable free-kick at the stadium where Messi’s final Argentina appearance is now planned.
A left-footed argument for Scaloni
Paz and Mastantuono are both left-footed, creative and comfortable taking responsibility in the final third. Both tend to begin from the right before moving inside, seeking either a pass or a shot. Their ability to beat opponents and strike accurately has been evident in Serie A.
Paz leads the league’s shooting standings with 28 attempts, while Lautaro Martínez and Mastantuono are next on 22. Lautaro’s place in the Argentina side is already secure; the two younger Serie A players are seeking to earn more substantial opportunities around him and Julián Álvarez.
In early training games, Scaloni has used Paz and Mastantuono together behind Lautaro and Álvarez. It is a potential indication that Argentina may offer greater room to technical players after Messi’s departure.
Messi’s presence had encouraged a more cautious structure, with a centre-forward and two wingers also expected to provide balance. That arrangement may change. Paz has looked less suited to playing as a second striker close to the penalty area, where tighter marking can restrict his influence. Mastantuono, younger and less experienced, has similar preferred areas of the pitch.
- Mastantuono has scored three Serie A goals this season.
- Paz has scored once in the league.
- Paz has already found the net for Argentina.
- Mastantuono is still waiting for his first senior international goal.
Neither player is being asked to become Messi, and neither could reasonably carry that expectation. But as Argentina say goodbye to a defining No. 10 at the Monumental, Como and Fiorentina will have two players close to the centre of the next question: who can give Scaloni’s new side its creative identity?
