When Lionel Messi took his final international bow at the Estadio Monumental on October 6 against Benin, signing off after 208 caps, 126 goals, and 67 assists, he left a vacuum that will be very difficult to fill.

Head coach Lionel Scaloni is now working to rebuild La Albiceleste around a more collective approach, having already guided Argentina to three major international trophies over the last five years, including the 2022 World Cup.

Rather than looking for a like-for-like replacement, which would be unrealistic, we've examined three ways Argentina can replace Messi's all-round contribution using six different players as they prepare to start life without their beloved hero.

Messi’s tempo control replacements - Alexis Mac Allister and Enzo Fernandez

For over a decade, Argentina's build-up relied on Messi dropping into deeper midfield positions to rescue stagnant possession. Now, ball progression and game management will need to come from the centre of the park. Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister and Manchester City's Enzo Fernandez could be key to that transition.

Alexis Mac Allister

Operating as Scaloni's midfield anchor, the former Brighton midfielder dictates when Argentina accelerate and when they control opponents through possession.

His positional intelligence eliminates the need for forwards to drop deep, ensuring the frontline stays pinned against opposing centre-backs while guaranteeing a clean first pass out from defensive pressure.

Enzo Fernandez 

Already a FIFA World Cup Young Player Award winner, the 25-year-old Manchester City midfielder brings experience of winning major trophies and has shown an ability to influence high-pressure matches.

From his iconic strike against Mexico in 2022 to his semifinal thunderbolt against England, Fernandez brings fearless box-crashing runs and the match-winning mentality required when knockout ties hang in the balance.

Messi’s goalscoring - Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez

Messi could unlock stubborn low blocks with his close control and movement, often creating goalscoring opportunities seemingly out of nothing. Argentina will now need to rely on different attacking qualities, including vertical movement, set-piece delivery and clinical finishing.

Julian Alvarez

Where Messi manipulated defenders with subtle body feints, the Atletico Madrid forward can stretch opposition defences through his movement, acceleration and ability to attack space.

Beyond his lethal finishing, La Arana assumes full command of Argentina’s free-kicks and corners, turning dead-ball situations into a primary weapon while linking seamlessly with his strike partners.

Lautaro Martinez 

As the highest-scoring player of the Scaloni era outside of Messi (32 international goals and over 180 career club strikes), Inter’s captain carries proven championship pedigree. 

His physicality in the box and clinical instinct give Argentina an experienced attacking reference point, provided he returns to full fitness.

Messi’s flair - Nico Paz and Gianluca Prestianni

To prevent Argentina’s structure from becoming overly robotic, Scaloni is injecting fearless youth into the final third—players capable of breaking tactical deadlocks through raw 1v1 audacity.

Nico Paz

His performances for Como, where he has demonstrated his ability to dictate play and operate as an attacking midfielder, have strengthened his case for a bigger role with Argentina.

Already viewed as a leading candidate to inherit Argentina's iconic No. 10 shirt, Paz combines excellent spatial awareness with the ability to receive on the half-turn, create opportunities and influence the final third.

Gianluca Prestianni

At just 20 years old, the Benfica winger offers the kind of direct dribbling and one-on-one ability that can unsettle opposition defences, giving Argentina another option to break down stubborn opponents.

Alongside fellow prodigy Franco Mastantuono, Prestianni gives Argentina an immediate individual game-breaker capable of dismantling stubborn low blocks on his own.

Argentina must replace Messi collectively, not individually

With Cristian Romero stepping up as on-pitch captain alongside vocal goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, Argentina’s defense and leadership capacities might remain secured for now. 

But Messi’s superhuman output can only be replaced by diversifying some of the side’s strengths and generating a sense of collective responsibility.

Scaloni’s next challenge is to prove he can deliver for Argentina without Lionel Messi, and these six players might have a huge role to play.