Messi’s heirs are playing in Serie A, and one could take over his no.10 shirt

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA - OCTOBER 06: Nico Paz of Argentina celebrates scoring his team's second goal with teammate Lionel Messi during the International Friendly match between Argentina and Benin at Estadio Monumental Antonio V. Liberti on October 06, 2026 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Lionel Messi is making his final appearance for Argentina following his announcement of international retirement on 31 August. (Photo by Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images)

Lionel Messi bid his final farewells to international football in one last friendly for Argentina against Benin in the early hours of Wednesday morning, and newspapers in South America suggest that two of his national team heirs are currently playing in Serie A. 

Paz and Mastantuono ready to step up for Argentina after Messi retirement

Messi provided a goal and two assists on his final outing for Argentina in an eventual 3-0 win over Benin in Buenos Aires last night, his final ever match at international level. His Albiceleste career ended with 208 caps and 126 goals, having won the World Cup and two Copa America titles over the last 10 years. 

Widely considered the greatest footballer of all time, replacing Messi will not be a straightforward task for Lionel Scaloni and the Argentina national team.

However, two players tipped to step into the Argentina side on a more regular basis following Messi’s retirement are currently playing their club football in Serie A: Como’s Nico Paz and Fiorentina’s Franco Mastantuono. 

Paz shone in Messi’s final Argentina match, coming off the bench and finding the far corner of the net from outside the penalty area just a few minutes after his introduction. That was his third goal in three matches in the September-October international break and ESPN Argentina described his performances as an ‘exhibition of the new generation’. 

There have even been suggestions that Paz could inherit the iconic no.10 shirt that Messi has worn for Argentina for the last 15 years. 

ESPN Argentina also singled out Mastantuono, on loan at Fiorentina from Real Madrid, as one of the youngsters ready to step up following Messi’s international retirement. 

The 19-year-old scored the first hat-trick of his professional career in a 4-2 Serie A victory over Venezia prior to the international break and scored Argentina’s sixth in an eventual 7-0 win over Burkina Faso on Sunday. 

The teenager has largely featured off the right for club and country so far this season, making excellent use of his wondrous left foot when given the opportunity to come inside, unlike Paz, who has shone in a more central position. 

“They left no doubts about their temperament. There is a future,” wrote ESPN.