Life after Leo: How Argentina’s No 10 solution is written in binary
In computer code, the binary number "10" equals two. In football’s next chapter, Argentina’s iconic No. 10 shirt might take two players to fill it.
For every Albiceleste supporter biting their nails over what the post-Lionel Messi future holds, take a breath. Finding the next Messi was always a fool's errand, but the sky is not falling in Buenos Aires.
Lionel Scaloni's next era is taking shape, not by placing the weight of a nation on one teenager's shoulders, but by sharing the load between two special left-footed talents: Franco Mastantuono and Nico Paz.
While Mastantuono missed the cut for North America entirely, Paz made Scaloni's squad but was restricted to limited minutes -- featuring against Jordan in the group stage and as a substitute against Algeria in the tournament opener. Today, both are knocking the door down and asserting themselves at the heart of Argentina's future.
Instead of fighting over a single crown, these Serie A sparkplugs bring two perfect halves of Messi’s game to the table. They carry forward a lineage of left-footed Argentine brilliance that runs back to Diego Maradona.
Instead of fighting over a single crown, these Serie A sparkplugs bring two perfect halves of Messi’s game to the table. They carry forward a lineage of left-footed Argentine brilliance that runs back to Diego Maradona.
In 19-year-old Mastantuono, currently cutting his teeth on loan at Fiorentina from Real Madrid, Argentina possess the explosive directness of a young Messi. Hugging the right wing, his pace and instinct for goal were on full display over the weekend. He tore Venezia apart with a sublime hattrick today, tucking two effortless finishes into the bottom corner in under two minutes in the first half.
Angel Di Maria, Messi’s trusted partner in crime through thick and thin, poured cold water on claims that the youngster is merely his successor.
"Mastantuono has been compared to me, but he’s much more talented and a far better dribbler," Di Maria had told Managing Madrid.
"He’s absolute top-drawer."
Mastantuono has been compared to me, but he’s much more talented and a far better dribbler.
While Mastantuono brings the fire and direct running of Messi’s early days, Nico Paz plays with the cool head of the veteran playmaker.
Fresh off being crowned Serie A's top midfielder with Como, Paz put on a masterclass during their dream 4-1 Champions League debut victory against RB Leipzig on Friday. Laying on two assists, the 22-year-old became the youngest Argentine to pull off that feat in the competition since Messi himself in 2008.
His boss at Como, Cesc Fabregas, who came through La Masia with Messi before teaming up with him again at Barcelona, highlighted Paz's knack for setting the tempo.
“He’s got the goal in his mind, a great final pass, has started to understand the game a lot better. He is a talent,” Fabregas had said.
In the past, Paz has been compared to Brazilian great Kaka, to which Fabregas had said, “Kaka was a little more explosive. He had this surge forward that, like Andres Iniesta, was unstoppable. When he started, you couldn’t get him back.
Nico is a little more physical, more positional, more static, but he knows how to use his body in a different way to others.
“Nico is a little more physical, more positional, more static, but he knows how to use his body in a different way to others.”
Endorsements from Di Maria and Fabregas -- two men who know Messi inside out -- should put any anxious Argentina supporter at ease. The future looks bright, not bleak.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Crucially, Scaloni does not face a dilemma of choosing one over the other. The two are natural complements in a single starting eleven. Mastantuono can wreak havoc out wide on the right, linking up seamlessly with Paz as he dictates the tempo as the central attacking midfielder behind the attack.
Curiously, both stars belong to Real Madrid, brought in following the rise of Barcelona's left-footed boy wonder Lamine Yamal before being sent out on loan to hit their stride. Madrid have since turned to Ivory Coast's two-footed forward Yan Diomande under Jose Mourinho to lead their charge for La Liga and a 16th Champions League title.
Had Madrid shown Mastantuono the same faith Mourinho’s predecessor Xabi Alonso did in his short stint at Los Blancos, could the young Argentine have provided the exact spark they are now chasing this season in Diomande, Brahim Diaz and Arda Guler?
Madrid do possess a buyback option on Paz, but whether these two make it back to the Bernabeu or bloom elsewhere, their international destiny is already calling.
Argentina can do without a single saviour to keep the dream alive. They have a double act ready to take the world by storm.
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