Argentina Without Lionel Messi, The New Face of Scaloni's Squad Without The Megastar

Argentina National Team has entered a new era following Lionel Messi's retirement from international football. Head coach Lionel Scaloni has announced a 28-player squad to face Uruguay and Costa Rica in the November 2026 FIFA Matchday, featuring a combination of senior players and several rising young talents.

This is Argentina's first squad announcement since Messi confirmed his international retirement in August 2026. The departure of their long-time captain has left a major challenge for Scaloni, most notably in preserving La Albiceleste's playing identity and competitiveness after an era defined by unprecedented success.

In the squad list published on 3 November, Scaloni has retained key established players including Emiliano Martinez, Lisandro Martinez, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, and Julian Alvarez. This group is expected to form the backbone of Argentina's side during this transition period.

Meanwhile, the 48-year-old head coach has also handed opportunities to players tipped to shape the national team's future. Chelsea defender Aaron Anselmino for example, has received his first ever senior Argentina call-up at the age of 21.

Gonzalo Montiel and Mariano Troilo are also included in the squad. This selection indicates that Scaloni is still experimenting to find the optimal line-up while maintaining squad depth across all positions.

Argentina have called up 28 players for this month's two international friendly matches. Several notable players have been left out of the list however, including Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso, while Lautaro Martinez and Cristian Romero are unavailable due to injury.

Emiliano Martinez Included Despite Injury

One of the most notable decisions from Scaloni's selection is the call-up of Emiliano Martinez. Argentina's first-choice Goalkeeper remains in the squad despite suffering a broken jaw while playing for his club Chelsea.

Martinez's fitness will undergo further assessment ahead of the matches. Scaloni opted to include him regardless, citing his vast experience and the pivotal role he played in Argentina's international trophy successes over recent years.

For the defensive line, Scaloni has called up nine players, including Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico, Facundo Medina, Gonzalo Montiel, alongside the debutant Aaron Anselmino. 

This defensive unit will be one area where consistency will be closely monitored, following Cristian Romero's injury absence.

Midfield is the position group with the largest number of options in this squad. Alexis Mac Allister and Enzo Fernandez remain the established core, while Nico Paz, Franco Mastantuono, Gianluca Prestianni, and Thiago Almada will provide fresh creative variation and energy.

In the attacking line, Scaloni has selected Jose Manuel Lopez, Santiago Castro and Julian Alvarez. With Lautaro Martinez sidelined, Alvarez is set to take on increased responsibility leading Argentina's forward line.

Argentina's First Tests Without Messi

Argentina will play their first fixture against Uruguay on Friday 13 November 2026 at La Bombonera Stadium, Buenos Aires. Four days later, La Albiceleste will host Costa Rica at the Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium in Cordoba.

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has confirmed both matches as part of the November international calendar. These two fixtures will provide the first public glimpse at how Scaloni intends to structure his side in the post-Messi era.

Uruguay will provide a tough opening test. The historic long-standing rivalry between the two nations means this Buenos Aires fixture will act as a major early examination for Argentina's new squad structure.

The match against Costa Rica meanwhile will give Scaloni the chance to test a wider range of player combinations. These two fixtures will also conclude Argentina's 2026 international Match Schedule.

The Challenge Of Succeeding Messi's Legacy

Scaloni's greatest task is not simply finding a player to fill Messi's former position. Argentina must find a way to replicate the creativity, leadership and on-field influence that their captain provided as the focal point of the team for almost two decades.

Messi retired from international football with 207 caps and 125 goals, both all-time records for the Argentina national team.

He also delivered the 2022 FIFA World Cup title, the 2021 and 2024 Copa America trophies, and led his nation to the 2026 World Cup final.

These historic achievements mean navigating this post-Messi transition is an enormous undertaking for Scaloni. No single player will ever be able to replicate the full contribution of the superstar.

That said, Argentina retains a strong core foundation. Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Julian Alvarez and Emiliano Martinez are all established international regulars. The addition of promising young talents such as Nico Paz, Mastantuono and Anselmino also provides a clear path for squad regeneration.

These November fixtures will be the first step to reveal the new face of the Argentina national team. After so many years built around Messi's individual genius, Scaloni is now tasked with building a side that can remain competitive through collective team strength.