Messi out, Garnacho in: How will Argentina line up at the 2026 World Cup?

A late bloomer in terms of his international career, Golden Glove winner Martinez will be 33 by the time the 2026 World Cup kicks off.

If he remains a regular starter in the Premier League (or another top European league) then it's hard to see him giving up the No.1 jersey for his country, with both his back-ups in Qatar - Franco Armani and Geronimo Rulli - older than the Aston Villa shot-stopper.

Argentina's right-back spot was hotly-debated back home heading into the tournament, with Atletico Madrid's Molina (24) and Sevilla's Gonzalo Montiel (25) sharing starts in the Albiceleste's first two games.

In the end, Molina got the nod for the remainder of the tournament and provided excellent attacking thrust, as illustrated by his goal against the Netherlands.

And so while Montiel might be national hero after his World Cup-winning penalty in Sunday's shootout, he may well have to make do as being a back-up once again in 2026.

After seemingly struggling for match fitness in the opening games as he made his return from injury, Romero grew into the tournament as it went on and became a force in the Argentine backline.

At just 24, he is set to enter his prime years between now and the 2026 World Cup. As such, it would be a surprise if he is not one of the first names on the team sheet when that tournament rolls around.

If you're looking for a potential alternative, then Atletico Madrid's on-loan centre-back Nehuen Perez (22) might be the man having been the long-time captain of the country's Under-23s.

It likely came as something of a surprise to Premier League fans when Martinez was not in Argentina's line-up for much of the World Cup, though when he did make it onto the pitch, 'The Butcher' showed exactly why he has quickly become a fan favourite at Manchester United.

He and Romero were born just three months apart and should be Argentina's starting centre-back duo for at least the next five years as long as they stay relatively injury-free.

Barco will only be 21 by the time the 2026 World Cup gets going, but the talent he possesses suggests he has what it takes to break into the Argentina side over the next few years.

The red-headed left-back has reportedly caught the eye of Manchester City's scouts with his performances for Boca Juniors' various youth sides in recent years, and there is real excitement in his homeland regarding his potential.

Fernandez showed in Qatar just why so many of Europe's elite clubs are keen on signing him as he was crowned the Young Player of the Tournament, and it seems like Benfica's summer arrival will not spend much of his career playing in Portugal before moving on again.

He will still only be 25 when the next World Cup kicks off, and expect Argentina to build their midfield around the ex-River Plate man over the next few years.

An agent of chaos during the knockout stages after a slow start to the tournament, Paredes will turn 33 during the 2026 World Cup and, if he can ensure he is playing regular first-team football, should remain in the international reckoning.

If age does catch up with him early, however, then the likes of Bayer Leverkusen's Exequiel Palacios (24) or impressive Velez Sarsfield teenager Maximo Perrone (19) could be options worth considering.

Early on in Qatar it seemed that Argentina were going to miss Lo Celso's creativity from midfield after injury ruled him out of the tournament, but given how Alexis Mac Allister grew into his role, it might seem a bold call to say that the Villarreal man will have earned his place back in the line-up in 2026.

Lo Celso is three-and-a-half years older than the Brighton man, and though Mac Allister was a shining light over the past few weeks, Lo Celso's form over the past couple of years in an Argentina shirt was so good that we're backing him to come back in at some point in the next three-and-a-half years.

Meanwhile, keep an eye on teenager Facundo Buonanotte, who is set to join Mac Allister at Brighton in January after an impressive debut season for Rosario Central.

A late call-up to the 2022 World Cup squad to cover for injuries, Almada has been spoken about as one of Argentina's top young talents ever since breaking into the Velez Sarsfield team as a 17-year-old.

Now 21, he was named MLS Newcomer of the Year after a strong first season at Atlanta United, and having previously been linked with the likes of Manchester City and Manchester United, a move to Europe should materialise in the next year or two.

Potential alternatives who already play in Europe are Luka Romero, who broke the record as La Liga's youngest-ever player when making his Mallorca debut in 2020 before he joined Lazio in the summer of 2021, and Valentin Carboni, who made his Inter debut earlier this season and is a player that Italy are upset at potentially missing out on having represented them at youth level.

The new potential hero of Old Trafford after a series of impressive displays for Manchester United ahead of the World Cup break, there were even some calls for 18-year-old Garnacho to be named in Argentina's squad this time around.

He didn't make it, but if he maintains his current level, then it should not be long before the former Spain youth international gets a chance to impress for the senior national side.

Alternative options on the left-hand side in 2026 could be Boca Juniors' Exequiel Zeballos, who has been linked with Manchester City in recent months, or Velez Sarsfield's highly-rated Gianluca Prestianni, who has reportedly caught the eye of Real Madrid having made his first-team debut at the age of 16.

Alvarez started the 2022 World Cup on the bench, but once he came into the line-up, Argentina took flight, with the Manchester City man forcing himself into Golden Boot contention in the process.

Still just 22, it would be a shock if he were not to keep his place for the foreseeable future, even if that means Lautaro Martinez is permanently relegated to a substitute's role.