Lionel Messi played his last game for Argentina on Tuesday night. He scored a penalty and set up two goals in a 3:0 win over Benin at the Monumental in Buenos Aires. It was a fitting goodbye. Now the harder question starts: what does Argentina without Messi look like? We already have real clues. Lionel Scaloni played two games without him in the past week, and the shape of the team changed.

A Farewell That Fit the Man

Around 85,000 fans filled the stadium. Messi took the corner for Nicolás Otamendi’s header in the 48th minute. He then set up Nico Paz in the 61st. Ten minutes later, he scored from the spot.

He leaves with 208 caps and 126 goals. Both are Argentina records. He also leaves with the 2022 World Cup and two Copa América titles. He announced his retirement on August 31, and this match was his official farewell.

What Messi Really Meant to Argentina

Messi was more than a goalscorer. He was the plan. At the 2026 World Cup, he scored eight goals and made four assists as Argentina reached the final.

But the final also showed the risk. Spain beat Argentina 1:0 after extra time on July 19. Argentina had two shots and none on target. Spain had 20 shots. When Spain shut Messi down, nobody else could create.

That is the real challenge for Argentina without Messi. No single player can replace him. The team has to share his job.

How Argentina Without Messi Lined Up

The first test came against Bolivia in Córdoba on September 30. Argentina won 4:0. Scaloni started Emiliano Martínez in goal. Agustín Giay, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez and debutant Román Vega formed the back four. Nico Paz, Exequiel Palacios, Alexis Mac Allister and Gianluca Prestianni made up the midfield. Up front, Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez played together.

Against Burkina Faso on October 3, Argentina won 7:0. The structure stayed the same. Facundo Medina came in at left back, and Enzo Fernández joined the midfield. Lautaro and Álvarez started together again.

The big change is clear. Messi’s free role is gone. In its place, Argentina now use two strikers. Romero wore the armband in both games.

The Game Plan Changes We Expect

Here is what the first two games point to.

Two strikers, more presence in the box. Lautaro and Álvarez can press defenders as a pair and attack crosses together. Lautaro scored in both games.

Creativity from many players. Paz scored and made an assist against Bolivia. Prestianni and Franco Mastantuono both scored against Burkina Faso. Some Argentine media see Paz as a candidate for the number 10 shirt.

Leadership from the back. Romero is the new captain. Otamendi also retired from international football after the World Cup, so the defence needs new voices too.

Read These Results With Care

The early numbers for Argentina without Messi look great: 11 goals scored and none conceded. But the opponents were weak. Bolivia arrived after four straight defeats. Burkina Faso landed about five and a half hours before kickoff after travel delays, and brought a mostly under 23 squad.

So the two striker system has not faced a top side yet. The real test is a team like Spain, who keep proving their level, as they did in their Wembley win over England.

The coach is another open question. Scaloni’s contract ends in December. Reports say the AFA has offered him a new deal, and he has said he wants to stay. Neither side has signed anything yet.

What This Means Going Forward

Argentina without Messi will look less like one genius and more like a team of shared roles. Two strikers lead the line. Paz brings the ideas. Romero leads from defence. The plan works against weak teams. Strong opponents will show us if it can win big games too.