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The announcement this Monday of Lionel Messi's retirement from the Argentina national football team marks the end of an era for the Albiceleste and the beginning of an inevitable renewal that will not only include the designation of a new captain and a number 10, but also the departure of several stars and the rise of young prospects.
The end of Messi's more than two decades wearing the blue and white hit Argentines hard this Monday, as they have been accustomed for years to counting on the magic of 'la Pulga' in every match of their national team.
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Many do not even have memories of the pre-Messi era and have grown up cheering for his goals and, more recently, celebrating his titles.
Now, following the 39-year-old idol's announcement of his decision to end his journey with the national team after the defeat in the 2026 World Cup final, the team begins a new chapter that, for the moment, presents more questions than certainties.
Domino effect?
The most immediate question is which other stars of the national team will leave along with their captain.
This Tuesday, midfielder Leandro Paredes, 32, cast doubt on his continuity and explained that Messi's departure is a significant factor: "I think that in these years, in this process, we have managed to form an incredible group of players and people, and in that group we had our leader, who was Leo, and he will no longer be there."
In addition to them, there is the departure of Nicolás Otamendi, who had announced before the World Cup that this would be his final performance with the Albiceleste, and doubts regarding the future of other key pieces of the 'Scaloneta' such as Nicolás Tagliafico, Rodrigo de Paul, or goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez.
The big question, however, is the continuity of Lionel Scaloni on the bench, as the coach's contract expires at the end of the year and, after the defeat against Spain in the World Cup final, he anticipated that he was going to take some time to think before making a decision.
A dance of names for potential replacements for Scaloni quickly began, something that has extended in recent hours to potential candidates to take on Messi's captain's armband and his number 10 jersey.
Regarding the captaincy, one of the firmest options is defender Cristian Romero, a pillar of the defense for the last few years who has already worn the armband on several occasions in the face of various absences of Messi.
Tagliafico and 'Dibu' Martínez have also been designated as captains in the past, but it is possible that the coach will opt for an outfield player whose continuity in the team is assured for the next few years.
Regarding the number 10, despite some voices calling for the jersey to be retired to honor Messi's memory, everything seems to indicate that it will remain in the hands of one of the players emerging as new leaders of the squad.
One of the options is forward Lautaro Martínez, who wears the number 10 at Inter in Italy. The jersey could also go to one of Messi's natural replacements on the field, such as Thiago Almada or Nicolás Paz, although there is a possibility that the coach may choose to assign it to a player with more experience in the Albiceleste, such as Alexis Mac Allister or Enzo Fernández.
A postponed overhaul
The search for new leaders occurs in parallel with the rise of young promises who in recent years encountered the longevity of some 2022 Qatar champions and Scaloni's timid rotation.
Among them, players such as Valentín Barco, recently signed by the English club Chelsea, and Giuliano Simeone, currently enjoying a great present at Atlético Madrid, stand out, although others also appear such as Gianluca Prestianni, of Portuguese club Benfica; Alejandro Garnacho, of Aston Villa; and Franco Mastantuono, a new signing for the Italian side Fiorentina.
Another sector of the field where a significant renewal is expected is the defense, especially on the flanks, given that Romero and Lisandro Martínez are shaping up to be a defensive pair with future potential.
Facundo Medina, signed by Bayer Leverkusen, showed a good level when he had to come in on the left flank during the last World Cup, while on the right side Scaloni had his eye on Agustín Giay, of Brazil's Palmeiras, and Nicolás Capaldo, of Germany's Hamburg, as alternatives to Gonzalo Montiel and Nahuel Molina, who arrived at the World Cup with physical issues.
In goal, the name that shows the most promise is that of young Santiago Beltrán, who, through good performances, managed to displace Franco Armani from the River Plate goal.
This renewal could happen imminently, as the Albiceleste has two FIFA windows ahead of them this year, one between the end of September and the beginning of October and another in mid-November, although for the moment there are no confirmed opponents for potential friendlies.
Despite the long list of unknowns, Argentine fans now have the certainty that the successful cycle of the last few years, which included the crowning achievement in Qatar and the 2021 and 2024 Copa América tournaments, has come to an end and that a new stage is beginning from now on: the post-Messi era. EFE
[Publicidad]