Argentina have chosen Cristian Romero as the man to lead the national team into the post-Lionel Messi era. The Atlético Madrid centre-back is set to become the country’s new permanent captain after Messi announced his retirement from international football on August 31. According to Digi24’s original report, the 28-year-old had emerged as the player selected to inherit the armband after more than a decade of Messi leading the Albiceleste. Subsequent reports in Argentina have since provided further detail on how Lionel Scaloni reached the decision.
Romero was already next in line
The appointment was not simply a reaction to Messi’s retirement. According to TyC Sports, Romero had already been established as Argentina’s third captain before the 2026 World Cup, behind Messi and Nicolás Otamendi. With Messi stepping away and Otamendi also ending his international career after the tournament, Romero effectively moved to the top of the existing leadership structure.
Romero is also no stranger to wearing the armband for his country. He has captained Argentina on three previous occasions, against Chile in World Cup qualifying, Venezuela in a friendly and Mauritania earlier in 2026. Those appearances gave Scaloni the opportunity to use the defender in the role before making him the first-choice captain for the next cycle.
The defender has made 58 appearances for Argentina, scoring four goals, while current Opta data credits him with one assist. That differs from the two assists listed in the original Digi24 report. Romero has been a central figure in one of the most successful periods in Argentina’s history, winning the 2021 and 2024 Copa América titles, the 2022 Finalissima and the 2022 World Cup.
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From Tottenham captain to Argentina captain
Romero’s increased responsibility at international level follows a major change in his club career as well. According to Atlético Madrid’s official announcement, he joined the Spanish club from Tottenham Hotspur in August and signed a contract running until June 2031. He arrived in Madrid having already developed considerable experience as a dressing-room leader in England.
Tottenham made Romero their captain for the 2025/26 season, following his prominent role in the side that won the Europa League in 2025. His five-year spell in north London ended with 156 appearances in all competitions before Atlético completed the transfer on August 15. The move now places him under Diego Simeone at club level while simultaneously taking on greater responsibility for Argentina.
Messi’s farewell is not quite over
Messi announced his international retirement following Argentina’s defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final. In his farewell letter, published by the Argentine Football Association, Messi wrote: “It was a decision that hurt and still hurts my soul, but I understand that this is the moment.” He explained that he believed the time had come for a younger generation to take greater responsibility after more than two decades with the national team.
There is, however, one final chapter still to come. The AFA confirmed on September 15 that Messi has been called up specifically for Argentina’s final friendly of the upcoming international window against Benin on October 6, while Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso will also join the squad for that match. Argentina will first face Bolivia on September 30 and Burkina Faso on October 3 before the Benin fixture at the Monumental.
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That creates an unusual transition in which Romero has been chosen as Argentina’s long-term captain while Messi is preparing to make one final appearance for his country. Once that farewell is complete, the armband will belong to a defender who has spent the past several years establishing himself as one of Scaloni’s most important players. The responsibility is considerable, but Argentina had already been preparing Romero for it before Messi finally decided to bring his international career to an end.
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