Messi’s No 10 successor: Serie A starlets Paz and Mastantuono among the contenders

Following Lionel Messi's retirement from international football, Argentina is searching for a successor to wear the iconic No. 10 shirt. Young talents like Nico Paz and Franco Mastantuono are being considered alongside established players.
Why it matters
The No. 10 shirt in Argentine football carries immense cultural and historical significance, making the selection of the next wearer a major national topic.
Argentina's search for Lionel Messi's successor in the No 10 shirt is under way, and two Serie A playmakers are among the early contenders.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport , Como's Nico Paz is the favourite among fans back home. Fiorentina's Franco Mastantuono, on loan from Real Madrid , is also in the running, and both have the left foot and creativity associated with Argentina's great No 10s.
Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister, a world champion who already wears the number for his club, would be a more immediate option.
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