Franco Mastantuono found himself in the spotlight after being left out of Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Did his move to Real Madrid influence the decision?

FROM DREAM TO NIGHTMARE

On June 13, 2025 — just seven days after making his debut for Argentina’s senior national team — the highly rated youngster left River Plate to join Real Madrid in a blockbuster transfer following Luka Modric’s departure.

The more than $73 million spent by the club in Chamartín created enormous expectations around the teenager. However, inconsistency, poor team results, and reported tensions with Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa quickly slowed his momentum. Then came his first Clasico — and the Argentine was not even selected.

It did not help that Real Madrid ended the season without silverware, while locker-room tensions and, most importantly, Mastantuono’s inability to replicate the brilliance he showed at River Plate further complicated his situation in Spain.

After starting brightly, Franco gradually lost both his starting spot and the trust of the coaching staff. He finished the campaign with 35 appearances, three goals, and one red card. That decline also carried over into his role with Argentina, where he played a secondary part during World Cup qualifiers and friendlies.

In total, he featured in three official matches and two warm-up games, offering little to convince Scaloni, who is aiming to lead Argentina to back-to-back World Cup titles in Mexico, the United States, and Canada.

There had already been warning signs during the previous FIFA window, when Mastantuono was added at the last minute to a preliminary 30-man squad for friendlies against Mauritania and Zambia. He played only 45 minutes in the 2-1 win over Mauritania and remained on the bench during the 5-0 victory over Zambia.

THE NO. 10 WHO WILL HAVE TO WAIT

Since his days at River Plate, Mastantuono had been viewed as a potential heir to Lionel Messi, especially at a time when there was uncertainty over whether the Argentine legend would play at the 2026 World Cup.

But Messi’s longevity — potentially appearing in a sixth World Cup — combined with Mastantuono’s adaptation process in European football and the challenges he faced at Real Madrid drastically changed the outlook. Now, the 18-year-old will have to wait for his first World Cup opportunity.

Meanwhile, players such as Giuliano Simeone, Nico Paz, and even Juan Manuel Lopez moved ahead of him in the pecking order, adding to the growing self-criticism surrounding the youngster.

Real Madrid are now reportedly looking to loan him out during the summer transfer window, and without the World Cup as a showcase, it may be difficult for Mastantuono to find the ideal club willing to bet on his talent — or even convince Madrid’s next manager to keep him in the plans.

One way or another, Franco will need to bounce back and earn his redemption if he hopes to be part of the 2030 World Cup, which will be hosted across Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay.

Will we see him there?

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