On September 10, 2025, when Argentina played Ecuador in their last World Cup qualifier, Lionel Messi was not in the squad. The captain was rested as the team had already booked its World Cup berth. In his absence, the No. 10 shirt went to a teenager who had played only two games for La Albiceleste.
At 18 years and 27 days, Franco Mastantuono became the youngest player to don the number, beating Diego Maradona’s record. When he made his debut three months before, he had become Argentina’s youngest ever player in a competitive match, surpassing Adolfo Heisinger’s record that had stood since 1916. It is ironic that in a nation with such football heritage both those records now belong to a player for whom football was only second choice.
In late 2018, Mastantuono, born in Azul in Buenos Aires, was preparing for the next tennis season. He had played 13 tournaments that year, travelled more than 5,000km and was ranked the fifth best under-12 player nationally. He had also played football since he was three and had even earned an offer from Argentine giants River Plate’s academy in 2017, aged 10. This was rejected so that he could focus on tennis. He continued playing football for a local club. But, when River came calling again in 2019, the family said yes.
At River, Mastantuono developed into an enganche—the traditional South American attacking midfielder. The position suited his instinct to receive the ball, pause, read the game and create. Though he impressed, the club also began moving him towards the right. The ability to play in two positions would help him to get more minutes and is also valued in the European football market. That resulted in a player who was as comfortable on the wing as he was receiving the ball in the middle. The left-footer is a prolific ball carrier with a precise final pass, impressive striking ability, the vision to link up play and the ability to pose a threat from set-pieces. In short, Mastantuono—now 5’10”—is a taller variant of the Messi archetype.
But, his resemblance to the idea associated with Messi did not end at attributes and positions. It extended to turning up in big moments. In April 2025, during the biggest game in Argentine football, in front of 85,000 people, Mastantuono curled a 30-yard free-kick into the top corner to help River beat Boca Juniors 2-1. He had a geography exam the following day and was worried he had not revised enough. River had intervened to get it postponed to allow him to play stress-free.
His €45million release clause was cheap for the top clubs in Europe. Newly crowned European champions Paris Saint-Germain moved for him, only to be outmanoeuvred by Real Madrid. He finished his first season for Real with 35 games, three goals and one assist. Not bad for an 18-year-old, but nowhere near his promise. This prompted a loan to Fiorentina in the Italian league this season to ensure his development.
His Italian roots may have played a role in the move. But, more significant was the legacy of Gabriel Batistuta in Florence. Trying to emulate Batistuta’s exploits for Fiorentina may have been an easier task than attempting to step into Messi’s boots for Argentina, but the start was not smooth. Fabio Grosso, the coach who had promised Mastantuono a key role, was sacked after the team lost its first three league matches. But, Paolo Vanoli—Grosso’s predecessor who has returned to the role—opted to stick with Grosso’s Mastantuono project. And the teenager repaid the trust shown in him by scoring a hat-trick to help The Violets to a 4-2 comeback win in Vanoli’s first league match back. In the process, he also broke a Messi record—youngest Argentine to score a hat-trick in Europe’s top five leagues. He was 19 and 28 days; Messi was 19 and 259 days when he did it.
There is now a feeling that this season will be key for Mastantuono. If he continues to perform in Florence, he could be on the path to greatness. If his development stalls, he could join a long list of failed wunderkinds. The challenge is especially important in his journey because he is competing with 22-year-old Nico Paz to be Argentina’s next 10.
