Messi plays with a player 20 years younger

18-year-old talent Franco Mastantuono had a promising debut for Argentina in a 3-0 win over Venezuela in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers on the morning of September 5.

Mastantuono (21) played well against Venezuela. Photo: Reuters .

Coach Lionel Scaloni surprisingly placed Mastantuono in the starting lineup alongside two strikers Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez in Argentina's attack. In 63 minutes on the field, the midfielder born in 2007 made his mark with 69 touches, 8 passes into the opponent's final area and achieved an accuracy rate of up to 86%.

Mastantuono's highlight was his good coordination with his senior Messi at the beginning of the match, before creating an opportunity for Alvarez to have a shot that forced Venezuelan goalkeeper Rafael Romo to show his talent in saving the goal.

Mastantuono was substituted in the 63rd minute to the cheers of the Argentine audience. Despite being only 18 years old (20 years younger than Messi), the Real Madrid new signing showed his mettle and did not look out of place in his national team debut.

Argentina fans expect Mastantuono to maintain a stable performance to have a chance to participate in the 2026 World Cup.

In the summer transfer window, Real Madrid spent 46 million euros to recruit Mastantuono from River Plate. This is the most expensive player sale in the history of Argentina. At the Bernabéu stadium, Mastantuono wears the number 30 shirt and receives a salary of about 3.5 million euros per year.

Mastantuono's strengths lie in his tactical vision and ability to pass the ball to create opportunities. For River Plate, he has made 61 appearances, scoring 10 goals, an impressive number for an 18-year-old midfielder.

The moment Messi cried On the morning of September 5, Lionel Messi shed tears in what was supposed to be his last match with the Argentine team in his homeland when he hosted Venezuela in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in South America.

Source: https://znews.vn/messi-da-cung-dan-em-kem-20-tuoi-post1582698.html