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After Messi, Copa hints at the next La Scaloneta

Published : Wednesday, 7 October, 2026 at 5:22 PM

Observer Online Report

As Lionel Messi’s Argentina career comes to an end, attention is turning to the next generation of La Scaloneta, with Lionel Scaloni preparing the team for life after its iconic captain.

The official Copa América Instagram account joined the conversation by sharing a picture of Scaloni driving a bus alongside Argentina’s younger players, offering a symbolic image of the coach moving forward with the next generation.

The post came after Messi ended his 21-year international career with Argentina’s 3-0 win over Benin at the Monumental on October 6. Messi scored from the penalty spot and provided two assists in his final appearance for the national team.

Argentina’s transition had already begun before Messi’s farewell. Scaloni had been introducing younger players to the senior team, with Nicolás Paz, Franco Mastantuono, Gianluca Prestianni, Agustín Giay, Román Vega, Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro among the emerging names. FIFA also highlighted the arrival of several new faces as Argentina prepared for Messi’s farewell.

Scaloni had said before the recent matches that the younger players were being monitored and would be given opportunities to contribute. He also confirmed that Cristian Romero would succeed Messi as captain, followed by Emiliano Martínez and Lautaro Martínez.

After Messi’s farewell, Scaloni acknowledged the scale of the challenge ahead but pointed to the younger generation as the future of the team.

“We are with young people, now this continues,” Scaloni said, adding that Argentina would need a strong team in which everyone contributed to compensate for the absence of Messi’s individual brilliance.

The next generation will be expected to develop alongside established players such as Julián Álvarez, Lautaro Martínez, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister and Cristian Romero.

The Copa América post therefore offered a fitting image of Argentina’s transition: Scaloni at the wheel, with a new generation of players ready to carry La Scaloneta into its next chapter.

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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury

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