An ageing squad, a manager in tears and no obvious Messi successor — the questions Argentina must answer before 2030

The 2026 World Cup is over, with Argentina finishing arsenic runners-up after a 1-0 decision to Spain. The Albiceleste's aboriginal is surrounded by uncertainty. Lionel Messi, astatine 39, is approaching retirement, and it is astir intolerable to ideate him competing astatine the adjacent World Cup. Manager Lionel Scaloni's declaration runs lone until December and helium near his continuation successful the balance, contempt ongoing negotiations for a renewal and a affirmative narration with the federation.

'I person an thought of what I privation to do, I volition fulfil the declaration and past I volition see. The information is that I consciousness the request to think, due to the fact that I bash not cognize if thing this large tin beryllium done again.' — Scaloni, speaking successful tears astatine his post-match property conference, which helium chopped short.

Beyond the imaginable lack of the top subordinate successful Argentina's past and an uncertain managerial situation, the squad itself volition besides spell done a large overhaul, with a important fig of the 2022 satellite champions apt to determination on.

Given their age, Nicolas Otamendi, Nicolas Tagliafico, Leandro Paredes, Rodrigo De Paul and Geronimo Rulli are each among the names improbable to diagnostic successful the adjacent cycle. That raises sizeable expectations astir which players volition capable those positions and signifier the caller spine of the Albiceleste.

Argentina's aboriginal successful question

Argentina are expected to look precise antithetic by 2030. Throughout the rhythm starring to the 2026 edition, Scaloni utilized the accidental to trial antithetic options, and respective players emerged arsenic candidates to instrumentality connected starting roles — including the experienced Leonardo Balerdi (27) and Marcos Senesi (29) successful cardinal defence, and the young brace of Valentin Barco (21) and Nico Paz (21) successful midfield.

Between present and 2030, however, Argentina volition request to measure each assemblage of the squad to place the caller halfway of the squad. The presumption attracting the astir attraction is successful extremity — some Emiliano Martinez (33), the undisputed archetypal choice, and Rulli, his contiguous deputy, whitethorn person ended their clip with the Albiceleste earlier the adjacent World Cup. The goalkeeper presumption is 1 wherever players tin proceed astatine the apical level astatine much precocious ages than most.

'Argentina person plentifulness of worldly to regenerate the large names who are leaving and who gave everything for the nationalist team. In defence, I spot Balerdi performing precise well. Senesi is another. There are youngsters successful Argentine shot doing fantabulous enactment — similar Tomas Palacios astatine Estudiantes. There are galore young players who volition beryllium acceptable erstwhile the large athletes who made specified a quality successful the past of Argentina's squad decorativeness their cycle.' — Graciela Basiano, Argentina supporter, speaking to Trivela.

Beyond Barco and Paz, Franco Mastantuono of Real Madrid is different young subordinate attracting important interest. The Albiceleste's younker setup has shown its prime — they reached the Under-20 World Cup final, suffering a constrictive decision against Morocco successful the deciding match.

Argentina's full-back concern is simply a occupation for 2030

Another situation relates to the full-back positions. For the 2026 World Cup, Scaloni utilized Nahuel Molina and Gonzalo Montiel connected the close broadside portion Tagliafico was the lone earthy left-back successful the squad. In immoderate matches, Facundo Medina, a cardinal defender, had to beryllium utilized retired of position.

With Tagliafico's probable departure from the nationalist team, left-back is apt to go 1 of the astir pressing concerns for the adjacent cycle. Much similar Brazil, Argentina besides struggles to find full-backs astatine planetary level, making it 1 of the astir underprovided positions successful the squad.

Valentin Barco appeared to beryllium an alternate astatine left-back, but the youngster has consolidated himself successful midfield — a relation Scaloni has utilized him successful passim this World Cup, leaving left-back options thin.

On the right, Molina and Montiel should inactive beryllium of the close property by 2030. The Atletico Madrid defender volition beryllium 32 successful 2030, portion the River Plate subordinate volition beryllium 33.

What astir Messi?

The astir analyzable farewell of each is that of Lionel Messi. The subordinate who competed successful six World Cups and won the rubric successful 2022 reached different last successful 2026, and indispensable present astir surely beryllium approaching the extremity of his planetary career. At 39 now, helium would beryllium 43 by 2030 — an property astatine which astir nary footballer continues to play astatine the apical level — and portion we are speaking of Messi, arguably the top subordinate of his generation, different World Cup is practically impossible.

Argentina's all-time starring scorer, with 124 planetary goals, looks acceptable to bring his nationalist squad vocation to a close, and that is simply a farewell that hurts profoundly for Argentine supporters. Imagining the nationalist squad without Messi is astir unthinkable, fixed that helium has been the defining fig of an full generation.

That makes it highly hard to place immoderate subordinate who could beryllium considered his existent replacement. Many supporters constituent to Nico Paz arsenic Messi's earthy successor, though adjacent that is hard to asseverate fixed however aboriginal the youngster inactive is successful his planetary career.

'Messi is Messi. Of course, astatine immoderate constituent helium volition beryllium replaced, but we are talking astir the top subordinate successful shot history. The glory with Argentina came aboriginal successful his career, and determination is nary uncertainty that his lack volition beryllium felt enormously erstwhile helium finishes his rhythm with the Albiceleste. He volition permission a void. He is an bonzer player. For 20 years helium has been the champion subordinate successful the world. Throughout those 2 decades, helium has consistently delivered everyplace helium has been. There is not overmuch much to accidental astir Messi — everyone already knows who helium is and what helium represents for football. For the future, I spot Nico Paz arsenic the main campaigner to inhabit the abstraction Messi volition permission behind.' — Graciela Basiano.