The Albiceleste may still be celebrating their success in Qatar, but how will their team look when they aim to defend their crown?
Lionel Messi has reached immortality. As the dust continues to settle on Argentina's dramatic World Cup win on Sunday, the focus remains on the man who many now believe has confirmed his status as the greatest to ever play the game.
But soon enough, attention will turn to the future, and though Messi has stated that he has no plans to retire from the international arena just yet, the chances are we have seen the last of him in terms of his World Cup career.
Messi will be 38 when the next World Cup takes place in 2026. Although, for context, he will be around three months older then than Cristiano Ronaldo was in Qatar this time around.
If we're to believe that Messi won't be in the Argentina team as they aim to defend their crown, who will take place, and who else from the victorious 2022 side will have moved on with him?
GOAL breaks it all down…
Getty ImagesGK: Emiliano Martinez
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.
AdvertisementGettyRB: Nahuel Molina
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.
Getty ImagesCB: Cristian Romero
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.
Getty ImagesCB: Lisandro Martinez
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.