Lionel Scaloni, the head coach of the Argentina national team, revealed the order of the captaincy after Lionel Messi's international retirement, with Cristian Romero taking the lead.
Messi is expected to play his final international match against Benin in a friendly on October 6 at the Monumental Stadium, bringing an end to his career with the Argentine national team after years during which he led the team to win the 2022 World Cup, reach the 2026 World Cup final, and secure two Copa América titles.
Messi will leave behind the Argentina captain's armband that he wore for the past 15 years, while Nicolás Otamendi recently announced his own international retirement, having been one of the vice-captains.
Scaloni confirmed on Wednesday that Atlético Madrid defender Cristian Romero would be the new captain of the Argentina national team, succeeding Messi, while Lautaro Martínez would be among the vice-captains.
Scaloni said in remarks reported by Gianluca Di Marzio: "The captain's armband will go to Romero, who was next in the leadership hierarchy after Leo and Otamendi."
He added: "Vice-captain will be Emiliano Martínez, followed by Lautaro Martínez as the third option."
Lautaro has represented Argentina since 2018, playing 84 international matches and scoring 40 goals.
Lautaro has also been the permanent captain of Inter Milan since Samir Handanović's retirement in the summer of 2023.
Javier Mascherano was the last permanent captain of Argentina before Messi, wearing the armband between 2008 and 2011, before it passed to Messi when he was 24 years old.
