Marca: Argentina and Portugal must find a new No. 10, a new No. 7 and new leaders

According to Marca, Messi and Ronaldo defined an era of international football for more than two decades. Their goals, titles, and records made them icons for Argentina and Portugal and gave special meaning to their respective jersey numbers. Now both national teams must learn to compete without their biggest stars.

The challenge is not only to find players to fill their positions on the pitch, but also to choose new core players to take on the responsibility of leading the team. Both sides have long been accustomed to seeing Messi and Ronaldo as their absolute spiritual pillars.

Argentina's No. 10 shirt seeks a new owner

After Messi's retirement from the national team, Scaloni has begun planning a new era for the "Albiceleste." The coach confirmed that the team will not retire the No. 10 shirt, but its new owner has not yet been decided. The candidates include Nico Paz, Franco Mastantuono, Alvarez, Tomas Aranda, and Lautaro.

Nico Paz has become one of the most talked-about players because of his excellent attacking qualities and playmaking ability. Equally promising is Tomas Aranda, a young talent with outstanding ability and a bright future, who is already attracting outside expectations.

Franco Mastantuono has a special distinction: in the official match against Ecuador in September 2025, he was the last player to wear Argentina's No. 10 shirt in Messi's absence. Alvarez and Lautaro have a different advantage: they have extensive international experience and an impressive scoring record, and they already play key roles in the team.

Portugal also needs to find CR7's successor

News that broke on November 5 changed the situation for Portugal. Ronaldo announced his retirement from the national team, ending a 23-year international career in which he played 234 matches and scored 146 goals.

His departure leaves a highly symbolic void in the team and has sparked discussion about who will take over the No. 7 shirt.

Leao is one of the players already linked with the number. With Ronaldo absent from the squad, the forward wore the No. 7 shirt in the match against Denmark on October 1. However, that assignment simply followed the competition's squad number registration rules and does not mean he has been officially designated as the legendary captain's successor.

Portugal also has players such as Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Neves, Vitinha, and Pedro Neto, all of whom can take on more responsibility in this new phase. The experience of the veterans and the growth of the younger players will be crucial in building a national team with new leaders.

Two legendary shirts, a test of generational transition

Comparing the situations of Argentina and Portugal has sparked an ongoing debate. The Argentina team Messi leaves behind already has a mature competitive system and several players with top-level tournament experience.

Portugal, however, has lost the all-time leading scorer in its history, a legendary figure who drew most of the team's attention for many years, and must re-evaluate its approach to building the team.