Argentina's national team will look a little different when Lionel Messi walks away. After more than two decades sporting the iconic stripes of the Argentines' home kit, Messi is finally riding off into the sunset.
His leadership qualities shone throughout his tenure with La Albiceleste. He was a magician, yes. But his gifts also inspired his teammates, who were liable to stay tethered to the back line if it gave Messi space to produce pyrotechnics.
Predictably, some are left wondering what comes next for Lionel Scaloni's side. Messi was Argentina's captain for 15 years. It will be quite an undertaking to replicate his intangibles when his arm was draped with an armlet.
With that, here's what we know about the Argentines' plan for captaincy post-Messi.
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Who will captain Argentina next?
Scaloni wasted little time in announcing who he was appointing to be Messi's successor a captain upon his retirement. Scaloni revealed that center back Cristian Romero will don the armband upon Messi's retirement, according to Italian journalist Gianluca DiMarzio.
Romero, 28, is an understandable choice for the position. The Atletico Madrid defender started six of Argentina's seven games during its run to the World Cup trophy in Qatar in 2022. He's also one of the most senior-most members of the squad, amassing 60 caps and counting for La Albiceleste. While things soured for Romero during his final season at Tottenham, he remains one of Europe's better defenders.
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Featured on the Copa America Best XI in 2021 and 2024, Romero has also proven that his domestic form follows him when he dons the Argentine colors. While it will take time to determine whether Romero has the demeanor to follow Messi, Diego Maradona and more as players to have lifted trophies while captaining Argentina, Romero appears to have the leadership chops to shine in the role.
He showed as much when rocking the armband when the Argentines beat Bolivia on Sept. 30, rifling a header into the net in front of his hometown Cordoba fans.
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"A day that will always be etched in my memory," Romero said of the honor, according to Goal. "I never imagined starting my career at Belgrano and 10 years later returning having achieved everything with the National Team. Scaloni told me quite some time ago that I was going to be the third captain. It's up to me to assume that responsibility."
Joining Romero at the head of Argentina's leadership group is veteran goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez (vice-captain) and prolific striker Lautaro Martinez (deputy).
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