Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has appointed Cristian Romero as the national team’s new captain following Lionel Messi’s retirement from international football.
According to Goal, the Atlético Madrid defender will take over the captain’s armband as Argentina begin a new chapter after the end of Messi’s long international career.
Scaloni confirmed Romero’s promotion while outlining Argentina’s leadership structure ahead of their upcoming fixtures.
“The captain is going to be Cuti. He was already the third captain after Leo and Ota (Nicolas Otamendi),” Scaloni said, according to TyC Sports, as reported by Goal.
He also identified several other senior players who could take on the captaincy when required.
“There is Emiliano (Martinez), who can also wear the armband. Rodrigo (De Paul), who will not be in these two games, can also wear it. Lautaro (Martinez) can wear it. Cuti is the right one.”
Romero’s appointment represents a continuation of the responsibility he has already carried within the Argentina squad. The 28-year-old was part of the team’s leadership group before Messi and Otamendi departed the national setup after the 2026 World Cup.
The defender has also previously captained Argentina three times under Scaloni. His first opportunity came during a 1-0 World Cup qualifying win against Chile. He later led the side against Venezuela in a friendly before captaining them again in their 2-1 victory over Mauritania.
The decision comes as Argentina enter the post-Messi era, with the legendary forward expected to make his final appearance for the national team against Benin on October 6. Goal reported that Messi will be honoured during the farewell fixture at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires.
Argentina have also had to deal with injury concerns ahead of their upcoming matches, with Thiago Almada and Juan Foyth both ruled out of the squad.
With Messi and veteran defender Otamendi no longer leading the team, Scaloni is now beginning to build a new leadership group around the next generation of Argentine stars — and Romero will be at the centre of it.