Who Steps Into Messi and Neymar’s Shoes? Brazil and Argentina Face a New Era

For more than a decade, the No. 10 shirt in South American football had two unmistakable owners: Lionel Messi for Argentina and Neymar for Brazil. Now, as both giants enter a new post-2026 World Cup cycle, the question is no longer whether the era is ending, but who will help define what comes next.

The transition will not be simple. Messi's influence on Argentina has been extraordinary, while Neymar has been Brazil's creative reference point for years. But the next generation is already waiting, with several players now facing the opportunity to take on greater responsibility.

Brazil Face Life After Neymar

Brazil's search for a new attacking identity could be particularly interesting. Neymar's international era appears to have reached its conclusion after Brazil's 2026 World Cup elimination by Norway, with coach Carlo Ancelotti making clear that the veteran is no longer part of his immediate plans.

The obvious candidates are not necessarily traditional No. 10s. Vinicius Jr has emerged from the 2026 World Cup as one of Brazil's leading attacking figures, while Raphinha remains an important option after establishing himself as a major creative and goalscoring threat at Barcelona. ESPN's analysis also identifies Chelsea forward João Pedro as another player who could be given an opportunity, although an injury has delayed his return to the national-team setup.

Rather than simply replacing Neymar with another player wearing the same number, Ancelotti may need to reshape how Brazil creates and controls games.

Vinicius Jr and Raphinha Carry the Attacking Responsibility

For Vinicius Jr, the post-Neymar era represents an opportunity to become an even more central figure for Brazil. His individual World Cup campaign strengthened his position within the attack, and his ability to operate from the left gives Ancelotti a proven outlet capable of creating danger without necessarily playing as a conventional No. 10.

Raphinha offers another route. The Barcelona winger has started the new club season strongly, although his World Cup was interrupted by injury. ESPN notes that one of Ancelotti's major challenges will be finding a way to reproduce the level of attacking influence Raphinha has shown for Barcelona.

Behind them, Brazil are also looking at younger midfielders including Gabriel Bontempo, Breno Bidon and Martinelli, while Andrey Santos and Douglas Luiz are among the players being considered for deeper midfield roles. Ancelotti has identified midfield control as an important part of Brazil's rebuilding process.

Argentina Have a Different Problem

Argentina's challenge is slightly different. While Neymar's role for Brazil had already changed during the latter part of his career, Messi remained Argentina's central creative reference for much longer.

Messi is now set for his final Argentina appearance against Benin in Buenos Aires on October 6, bringing an emotional close to an international career that has included the 2022 World Cup triumph and multiple Copa América titles.

The good news for Lionel Scaloni is that Argentina have already experienced periods without Messi. During the previous World Cup qualifying campaign, Messi started only 10 of Argentina's 18 matches, giving the team opportunities to develop alternatives. Julian Álvarez often occupied a more flexible attacking role during those periods and remains an important part of Argentina's future.

Nico Paz Emerges as a Natural No. 10 Option

Among the players attracting the most attention in the post-Messi Argentina conversation is Nico Paz.

The Como midfielder has earned praise for his performances in Serie A and offers qualities associated with the traditional No. 10 role: receiving between the lines, creating chances and looking to dictate attacking moves. ESPN identifies him as the leading specialist No. 10 option in Argentina's current transition.

Paz's challenge is not to become another Messi, but to establish his own identity within a team that already possesses a strong tactical structure. With Messi no longer occupying the same spaces, Paz could have greater freedom to influence matches.

Franco Mastantuono and Thiago Almada Also in the Picture

Paz is not the only possibility. Franco Mastantuono has also emerged as an intriguing option for Argentina after making a strong start to his season with Fiorentina following his move from Real Madrid. His attacking instincts and ability to operate from wide or advanced positions could give Scaloni another creative option.

Then there is Thiago Almada, who has joined River Plate and remains part of the conversation once he returns from injury. His opportunity to play regularly in Argentina could give him another platform to compete for an important role in the national team.

The presence of several candidates means Argentina do not necessarily have to search for one direct replacement. The creative burden could instead be shared between multiple players.

The No. 10 Shirt Means More Than a Number

The challenge facing both Brazil and Argentina is bigger than deciding who wears No. 10. Pele, Maradona, Messi and Neymar turned the shirt into a symbol of responsibility, creativity and expectation. Whoever inherits it will inevitably be compared with players whose careers changed the history of their national teams.

That makes the transition particularly fascinating. Brazil have attacking stars such as Vinicius Jr and Raphinha, while Argentina can look toward Nico Paz, Mastantuono, Almada and Álvarez. None needs to replicate Messi or Neymar to succeed.

Instead, the next chapter of South American football may be about something different: several players sharing responsibilities once carried by two extraordinary No. 10s. The post-Messi and post-Neymar era has arrived. Now, a new generation gets its chance to write its own story.