Predicting Who Will Be the Next Great Argentina Player

The next generation of Argentine talent has a formidable task ahead. Not only must they try and live up to the example set by the one and only Diego Maradona on the field, itself no easy undertaking. The figure of Lionel Messi also looms large over the Albiceleste, as the Barcelona No. 10 has established himself as one of the greatest ever to play the sport. 

The talent, however, is there waiting in the wings. As always predictions are no exact science, but there are a handful of candidates who could be mentioned in the same breath as Diego and Leo a few years down the line. 

A Perfect 10

There is one shirt in Argentine football that carries an almost overwhelming history and tradition. The No. 10 has traditionally been the reserve of the enganche, a playmaker who dictates the rhythm of the game three quarters of the way up the pitch. 

Maradona, who wore the shirt for no less than four World Cups from 1982-1994, is obviously the most famous exponent of this type of play; even though, similarly to Messi, the ex-Napoli and Barcelona man often played as a withdrawn striker rather than a more orthodox playmaker. 

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Behind those two titans, names such as Independiente legend Ricardo Bochini, current Argentinos star Juan Roman Riquelme and River Plate favourites Pablo Aimar, Marcelo Gallardo and Ariel Ortega also come to mind. Who could follow in the footsteps of such a glittering list of stars? 

Roma youngster Juan Iturbe was nicknamed the "Paraguayan Messi" as he grew up in Cerro Porteno's youth ranks, but the attacking midfielder is now 100 percent committed to representing Argentina following fierce wrangling between the two South American nations. At just 21, the left-footed prospect boasts the same low centre of gravity, fiendish dribbling skills and eye for goal that made La Pulga the world's best. 

At the other end of the spectrum, Tottenham's Erik Lamela brings to mind a more upright, elegant, traditional kind of playmaker than his compatriot. Think Riquelme over Maradona; the former River man has a brilliant future ahead of him, and his second season in England shows every sign of being far more successful than the first. 

The Man in the Middle

It would be a fallacy, of course, to suggest that the only players worthy of adoration in the Seleccion are those with 10 printed across their back. Those who anchor the team in the middle of the park, chasing down rivals and never giving up, are just as esteemed in public perception. 

From Antonio Rattin to Javier Mascherano, and including stars such as Ricky Villa, Fernando Redondo, Diego Simeone and Esteban Cambiasso, the Albiceleste have boasted an enviable collection of central midfielders over the years. The good news is that supply shows no sign of running dry just yet. 

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River Plate's Matias Kranevitter, at 21, leads the list of prospects. The Tucuman native has been the heart of a brilliant Millo team so far this season, showing bite in the middle as well as fantastic awareness and distribution. 

Velez's Jorge Correa and Lucas Romero and Joaquin Correa of Estudiantes are also heavily tipped for big things as they start to make waves in local football. And of those who have already made the move overseas, Manchester City signing Bruno Zuculini is a powerful runner with the world at his feet, also at just 21 years of age. 

The Hitman 

Or will Argentina's next great follow in the footsteps of Batistuta, Caniggia, El Matador Kempes and Guillermo Stabile? Inter's Mauro Icardi stands out as a red-hot talent at centre-forward, a position that, Gonzalo Higuain aside, is not exactly overcrowded right now in the nation. 

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Icardi has only one international cap to his name, but at the tender age of 21 there is plenty of time to add to that total. He can score with both feet and his head, and is blessed with pace, strength, skill on the ball and positioning that makes him a brilliantly complete forward for someone so young. 

The wild cards

All of the players named so far in this list have a fair amount of first-team appearances behind them, with their inclusion based of evaluating their performances to the current date and projecting a successful future on that analysis. But there are two kids right at the start of their careers who, while seeing little or no action at senior level, are too interesting to leave out. 

Villarreal's Nahuel Leiva stands out as the type of talent that does not come along too often. At just 17, the Rosario native has made five appearances for the Yellow Submarine, scoring his first goal in a Europa League tie against Astana earlier in the season. 

The box-to-box midfielder would fit right into the current dynamic Argentina setup, although he may have to wait a few years before forcing his way into contention. As will young Carlos Valenzuela, a 17-year-old wonderkid waiting patiently for his chance to explode into action with Racing. 

Although the No. 10 has only represented the youth divisions of the club so far, he has already picked up the inevitable "New Messi" (link in Spanish) tag thanks to his virtuoso dribbling ability and eye for the net. Remember the name; Valenzuela could well succeed the Barcelona star when he decides to hang up his Albiceleste boots.