Argentina’s October gathering will bring an era toward its close when Lionel Messi makes what is set to be his final international appearance against Benin on 6 October. In the same squad, far from the spotlight surrounding the former Barcelona captain, Zenit Saint Petersburg left-back Román Vega has received his first senior call-up.
Key takeaways
- Messi is due to bid farewell to Argentina in the friendly with Benin on 6 October.
- Román Vega, 22, has been selected by Lionel Scaloni for the first time and could make his senior debut.
- The Zenit defender spent the 2022/23 season on loan at Barça Atlètic, where he played 17 matches under Rafa Márquez.
- Zenit paid €7.7 million to sign Vega from Argentinos Juniors in the summer of 2025.
- He has started the new campaign strongly, appearing in 11 of Zenit’s opening 12 fixtures.
From Barcelona’s reserve side to Argentina’s senior squad
Vega’s route to the Albiceleste has taken him from Buenos Aires through Barcelona and on to Saint Petersburg. His brief connection with the Catalan club came in 2022/23, when Barça Atlètic took him from Argentinos Juniors on loan with a purchase option.
Under Márquez, the young left-sided defender made 17 appearances, but Barcelona chose not to complete a permanent deal. Vega returned home despite already having top-flight experience with Argentinos Juniors, where he had played under Gabriel Milito. He had also previously been involved with Argentina’s Under-20 set-up during Javier Mascherano’s time in charge.
Two productive seasons back at Argentinos Juniors rebuilt his momentum. Zenit then committed €7.7 million for him in the 2025 summer window, offering Vega a second move away from Argentina after the Barcelona spell that had not fully taken hold.
A new opening in Saint Petersburg
Vega did not immediately establish himself as Zenit’s first-choice left-back in his first season in Russia. This term, however, he has become a much more regular presence, featuring in 11 of the club’s first 12 matches.
That run has earned him Scaloni’s attention at a poignant international camp, with Messi’s expected departure from the Argentina squad forming the emotional backdrop to the friendly against Benin. Vega’s Barcelona chapter may have been short, but the October window gives him an opportunity to turn his strong Zenit form into a first senior Argentina appearance and make a case for future selections.
