Argentina gem Franco Mastantuono makes international debut at 17: How old was Lionel Messi in his first cap?

Argentina triumphed over Chile in a commanding performance, securing a victory with a 1-0 scoreline thanks to Julian Alvarez’s decisive first-half goal. A noteworthy highlight of the match was the debut of Franco Mastantuono, who took to the field at just 17 years and 295 days of age, surpassing Lionel Messi‘s age at his international debut.

In a momentous debut for the Argentine national team, rising talent Mastantuono donned the iconic jersey for the first time under the guidance of head coach Lionel Scaloni. With speculation swirling around a potential move from River Plate to Real Madrid for the next season, the young prospect seized the opportunity to impress in Argentina’s recent World Cup Qualifiers clash against Chile.

Having already secured a place in the upcoming FIFA World Cup, to be jointly hosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada, Argentina is strategically utilizing this qualifying window to experiment with new talent in anticipation of the tournament. By introducing fresh faces like Mastantuono to the pitch, Scaloni is not only broadening his tactical options but also providing invaluable international experience to emerging players.

What was Messi’s age during his first appearance for Argentina?

Lionel Messi earned his first cap for Argentina on August 17, 2005, in a match where Argentina defeated Nigeria 2-1. At the time of his debut, Messi was 18 years and 54 days old, considerably older than the record holder, Diego Maradona.

Although some players made their debut with the Argentine National Team at a young age, they didn’t have the most impactful start. They had limited playing time and few opportunities to influence the scoreline on their debut.

Maradona still holds the record

Despite Mastantuono’s early debut, Argentine legend Diego Maradona still holds the record as the youngest player ever to debut for the national team. Maradona was a standout player from his early days in the Argentine league with Argentinos Juniors.

At just 16 years old, Maradona made his debut with Argentina, marking the beginning of a legendary career. Meanwhile, Mastantuono ranks as the fifth-youngest player to earn his first cap for Argentina.