Mastantuono and Nico Paz speak out: Messi's emotional Argentina farewell, Scaloni's future remains uncertain

Lionel Messi is about to walk off the pitch in Argentina colors for the last time. The moment is expected to arrive in the match against Benin, the final game of the country's upcoming international window. As the nation prepares for an emotional farewell, two young talents — Franco Mastantuono and Nico Paz — have spoken about the legendary captain and about head coach Lionel Scaloni, whose future remains unclear. The window includes three matches: Bolivia, Burkina Faso and Benin. According to Goal.com, Messi will sit out the first two games and feature only against Benin, where organisers plan a proper farewell ceremony. The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has prepared the schedule carefully, from travel arrangements to kick-off timing, to maximize the tribute to one of the greatest players in history. For the younger players, this window carries a different meaning: preparation for the post-Messi era. Mastantuono, born in 2026 and widely called the heir to Argentina's iconic number 10 shirt, admitted the void Messi leaves is enormous. “We understand what it means for the captain to leave. It is an emotional transition, but also a chance for the young generation to prove ourselves. We are preparing for the future,” Mastantuono said. Despite the hype, he tried to stay humble, insisting he did not want to be compared to the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner and would rather contribute in his own way. Nico Paz, a midfielder at Como, has also drawn attention. Paz was handed his Argentina debut by Scaloni. In an interview, he praised his coach: “He is one of the most important coaches for me, the one who gave me the chance to wear the national team shirt. I hope he stays with the team.” However, when asked about Scaloni's expiring contract, both young players avoided a direct answer. They only said they had no further information — a careful sidestep while the 47-year-old coach's future remains in doubt. Scaloni is the architect of Argentina's most successful cycle in two decades. Under him, Argentina won three major trophies in a row: the 2026 Copa America, the 2026 Finalissima and the 2026 World Cup. He built a cohesive playing style and a rare dressing-room togetherness. But his contract is nearing its end, with no renewal officially confirmed. This puts AFA in a difficult position. On one hand, they need to organise a perfect farewell for Messi. On the other, they need to keep the coach who built a winning framework. If Scaloni leaves after Messi retires, Argentina would face a double transition: losing their on-field leader and their tactical leader at the same time. The transition is not simply a human story; it is also a tactical one. Mastantuono is a creative player who likes to operate from the left channel, while Paz is a number 10 who drifts through central areas. Both need the ball to be effective. Finding a way for them to share space will be a challenge for any future coaching staff. They could complement each other, or they could crowd each other in the final third. This is a detail often missed in articles praising Argentina's new generation, but it is a real problem that any long-term project must solve. Nico Paz's story has another layer. Before choosing Argentina, he represented Spain at youth level. Being handed his senior debut by Scaloni was a turning point. Under FIFA rules, a senior national-team appearance for Argentina now ties him to the South American side. That locks in a rising talent for AFA and signals that the federation is already planning the creative transition. Mastantuono's case deserves caution. He is only 18 and spent his early months in European football. Transfer records show he belongs to Real Madrid after leaving River Plate, even though some reports mistakenly called him a Fiorentina player. That detail should be verified before being used. More importantly, the label of “Messi's successor” can create unnecessary pressure. Argentine football history is full of gifted number 10s — Ariel Ortega, Pablo Aimar, Javier Pastore — who were compared to legends but ultimately remained themselves. Mastantuono needs time, regular playing time and a patient environment. Placing Messi's mission on his shoulders is unfair, even with good intentions. In this context, the results of the next three matches should not be read in the usual way. Bolivia may offer a competitive test, but Burkina Faso and Benin are likely to be symbolic and experimental. Statistics from this window will not reflect Argentina's real strength. What matters more is how the team functions without Messi, how the young players cope with pressure and how the coaching staff handles the transition. Scaloni's future will dominate the window. If his contract is renewed before or during these games, Argentina can move forward with stability. If he leaves, AFA will need to find a replacement quickly while the core squad still has the hunger to win but is approaching the end of a cycle. Messi has already given everything to the blue-and-white shirt. The biggest question now is not the name of his replacement, but whether Argentina can be patient enough to build a new collective identity instead of searching for another individual icon. The farewell against Benin will be a moment to thank Messi. The day after, everything will restart. Mastantuono's runs down the left, Paz's passes through the middle and the presence or absence of Scaloni will shape the new Argentina. This window may not answer every question, but it will reveal the direction the world champions are choosing.