Franco Mastantuono’s first international start arrived in the most symbolic of settings — at River Plate’s Monumental, on the night Lionel Messi waved goodbye to competitive home football with Argentina. The Real Madrid youngster did not look out of place. He was involved in Argentina’s first meaningful move after just four minutes, linking with Messi before Julián Álvarez forced Rafael Romo into an early stop.
By the time Mastantuono was substituted just past the hour, he had recorded 69 touches,
eight passes into the final third, and an 86% passing accuracy, his performance carrying the poise of a player unfazed by the stage. Mastantuono completed 5/6 longballs. He made two recoveries and was fouled once during his time on the pitch.
Messi was decisive in front of the goal. He broke the deadlock in the 39th minute after Álvarez’s unselfish cut-back, lifting a delicate finish over Romo for his 113th international goal.
Argentina’s dominance only grew in the second half. Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martínez, introduced in the final quarter, doubled the lead with a header from Nicolás González’s cross after a quickly taken Messi free-kick sparked the move. Moments later, Thiago Almada cut through Venezuela’s back line to square for Messi to tap in his second of the night. The visitors’ resistance had long since crumbled; they finished without a single shot on target.
La Frabrica graduate, now a Serie-A star, Nico Paz, entered the game for the final 10 minutes of regulation time. The game was already done and dusted by then, but Paz completed all seven of his passes in this cameo.
The 3–0 scoreline was representative of Argentina’s command and Venezuela’s limitations. More importantly, it framed the generational handover of some sort: Messi scoring twice in his 194th cap, Mastantuono making his first start in the same colors.
