September 3: Messi Retires, Does Dybala Receive a Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity? Argentina’s No.10 Role May Change

Late on August 31, 2026, Messi published a handwritten letter on social media and officially announced his retirement from the Argentina national team. At 39, his final record with the Albiceleste stood at 207 appearances, 125 goals, and 68 assists, with all three figures ranking first in Argentina’s history. Just one week earlier, he had led Argentina into the 2026 World Cup final in the United States, Canada and Mexico, only to lose 0-1 to Spain and finish as runners-up.

After Messi’s departure, a vacancy appeared at the heart of Argentina’s attack. At this moment, news from Italy attracted attention: 32-year-old Dybala started both of Roma’s first two Serie A matches of the new season, recording three assists and eight key passes. In the opening round, Roma defeated Fiorentina 4-0, with Dybala providing all three assists, each connecting with new signing Malen. It became the first time in five years that a Serie A player had assisted the same teammate three times in one match. The player once known as the “New Messi” appeared to have rediscovered his form.

Back in the summer of 2012, 18-year-old Dybala moved from Argentina to Italy to join Palermo, with a €12 million transfer fee setting a club record at the time. Three seasons later, Juventus signed him for €32 million plus €8 million in add-ons. In the 2015-16 Serie A season, Dybala scored 19 goals, finishing second in the scoring charts behind Higuain. At that time, transfer rumors involving Barcelona and Real Madrid appeared every window, his market value peaked at €110 million, and the “New Messi” label shone brightly.

The problem came from that very label. Like Messi, Dybala is a left-footed player who likes receiving the ball in the half-spaces and depends heavily on possession as a No.10. In Argentina’s tactical system, Messi was always the sole creative hub. Two players with overlapping roles struggled to coexist in the same structure.

The statistics illustrate this clearly: from his national team debut in 2015 to 2026, Dybala’s 11-year international career produced 40 appearances, only four goals and seven assists, with just seven starts, fewer than 18 percent of his appearances. At the 2018 World Cup in Russia, coach Jorge Sampaoli gave him very limited opportunities, using him for only 22 substitute minutes against Croatia in the group stage, a match Argentina lost 3-0. At the 2022 Qatar World Cup, he made his debut only in the 74th minute of the semifinal, came on in the 120th minute of the final, made a key extra-time clearance, scored in the penalty shootout, and won the title with the team. He was left out of the 2024 Copa America squad. He was also absent from Scaloni’s 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup. Across three major tournaments, he played only 129 minutes—this was the real weight of the “New Messi” in Argentina’s national team.

His club career has also been complicated. In the summer of 2022, Dybala joined Roma as a free agent. In the Eternal City, he regained a central role: he scored 12 goals in 28 Serie A appearances in 2022-23, helped Roma win the Europa League in 2024-25, and scored a decisive free-kick winner in the 89th minute of extra time in the final. By 2026, he had made 118 appearances for Roma and scored 43 goals, entering the club’s top 30 all-time scorers. However, injuries have continued to trouble him. In 2025-26, he played only 22 matches, contributing three goals and three assists, while his market value fell from a peak of €110 million to €5 million.

The situation changed at the start of the new season. Roma invested nearly €500 million in reinforcements during the summer, appointed Gasperini as coach, bought Malen permanently for €25 million, and also signed Wesley, Hermoso, Soule and others. The Dybala-Malen partnership quickly produced results, with three connections between them helping Roma defeat Fiorentina in the opening round. After the match, Gasperini said: “Both of them are world-class. Dybala has always been world-class, he has just had too many injuries. He is a beast now; letting him play extra time would not be a problem.”

Dybala also responded in the mixed zone: “I am a beast now. Gasperini said I can play 120 minutes—he was not joking. Even I am surprised by my current muscle condition.” After two rounds, Dybala led Serie A with three assists, while Roma won both matches, scored eight goals and conceded none, sitting at the top of the table. Messi’s retirement has theoretically given Dybala an important opportunity.

The position once firmly occupied by Messi is now open. Scaloni must rebuild Argentina’s attacking system. Lautaro Martinez and Alvarez remain established starters, but the team needs someone to create chances. Dybala’s qualities—left-footed technique, ball control, half-space movement and key passing—remain rare within Argentina’s squad.

However, reality is more complicated than the romantic narrative. The first obstacle is age. Dybala was born in November 1993, meaning he will be close to 37 at the 2030 World Cup. Meanwhile, Lautaro and Alvarez are in their prime, while young players such as Garnacho and Nico Paz offer energy and potential, making them more valuable long-term options than a 32-year-old Dybala.

The second obstacle is fitness. The “injury-prone” label exists for a reason, and his 22 appearances in 2025-26 are evidence. Gasperini calls him a “beast,” but long seasons and crowded schedules will test Dybala every month given his age and injury history.

The third obstacle is national team trust. Scaloni leaving Dybala out of both the 2024 Copa America and 2026 World Cup squads sent a clear message—within the coaching staff’s plans, Dybala has never been a priority option. Messi’s departure does not automatically make Dybala his successor; he must use consistent performances for Roma to regain the trust of the national team staff.

Another detail often overlooked is that Messi specifically mentioned in his farewell letter that a group of excellent young players is emerging and deserves more opportunities. This may suggest Argentina’s future direction is focused on developing younger players rather than returning to a 32-year-old veteran as the main core.

What Dybala has received is less a throne to “succeed Messi” and more an opportunity to return to the national team rotation as a veteran. Whether he can take this opportunity depends on how long he can maintain top form at Roma and whether Scaloni is willing to give this former fringe player a genuine starting chance after Messi’s departure.

From a young player at Palermo, to a peak star at Juventus, then a key figure at Roma and a fringe international for Argentina, Dybala’s career has been filled with misalignment and regrets. At 32, Messi has retired and Roma’s Dybala has rediscovered his “beast” form. Every touch and every assist in Serie A from now on will be watched by Argentina’s coaching staff.

The player once called the “New Messi” still has to answer one question: can he finally become Argentina’s starting No.10 at the age of 32? The story continues to be written on Roma’s pitch.