Lionel Scaloni Names Cristian Romero as Argentina's Next Captain After Messi

After more than 20 years wearing Argentina's iconic jersey, Lionel Messi is nearing retirement from international football. His influence went beyond his magical skills; he led and inspired teammates who often adjusted their play to give him room to create.

With Messi having captained the team for 15 years, many wonder who will fill the leadership void when he steps down. The responsibility of replacing such an influential figure is massive, but Lionel Scaloni has already made his choice clear.

Who Will Lead Argentina Next?

The head coach wasted no time revealing his plan. According to Italian journalist Gianluca DiMarzio, Cristian Romero, the center back for Atletico Madrid, will take over the captaincy once Messi retires.

At 28 years old, Romero is a solid pick. He played in six of seven matches during Argentina's victorious 2022 World Cup campaign and is among the squad's most experienced players with 60 caps. Despite a challenging final season at Tottenham, Romero remains one of Europe's respected defenders.

He earned spots on the Copa America Best XI in both 2021 and 2024, showing consistency at club and international levels. Whether Romero can match the leadership qualities of legends like Messi or Maradona remains to be seen, but he has already demonstrated promising leadership skills.

Romero showed his potential as captain during Argentina’s 1-0 win over Bolivia on September 30, scoring a header in front of his hometown crowd in Cordoba while wearing the armband.

"A day that will always be etched in my memory," Romero said, according to Goal. "I never imagined starting my career at Belgrano and 10 years later returning having achieved everything with the National Team. Scaloni told me quite some time ago that I was going to be the third captain. It's up to me to assume that responsibility."

Argentina's Leadership Core

Alongside Romero, veteran goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez serves as vice-captain, while forward Lautaro Martinez holds the role of deputy captain. This trio forms the backbone of Argentina’s leadership moving forward as the team adjusts to Messi’s absence.