As the 2026 World Cup approaches, the Argentine national team, known as La Scaloneta, faces the challenge of filling the valuable substitute position left by Ángel Di María's retirement and Paulo Dybala's exclusion. With Lionel Scaloni set to finalize his roster of 26 players, a group of young left-footed talents, including Nicolás Paz, Franco Mastantuono, Valentín Carboni, and Matías Soulé, are vying to secure a place on the team. Each of these players is showcasing their potential in hopes of impressing the coach and earning a spot behind Lionel Messi in the lineup.

Nicolás Paz, at 21, is currently leading the competition due to his impressive performances with Como in Italy, where he is guided by coach Cesc Fàbregas. Paz, the son of Pablo Paz, who represented Argentina in the 1998 World Cup, has the advantage of experience in international football despite his youth. The competition for the substitute spot is heated, as young talents like Mastantuono, Carboni, and Soulé are also making significant strides and presenting themselves as viable options for Scaloni.

As the national team prepares for the World Cup, the pressure is on these young players to deliver strong performances in their respective leagues to secure a coveted spot in the lineup. The outcome of this internal competition not only determines the future for these players but also shapes the strategy for the Argentine national team's approach to the World Cup, particularly in how they will support their legendary captain, Lionel Messi, in his final tournament.