playTim VickerySep 23, 2026, 10:50 AM ETMultiple AuthorsOpen Extended ReactionsSouth America’s national teams are taking their first steps in a new post-FIFA World Cup cycle, but the road ahead is still far from clear.What will the calendar be like over the next few years? A Copa América is scheduled for 2028, but where will it take place? Nothing is confirmed, although the United States seems highly possible.What about the 2030 World Cup qualifiers? With Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay already taking part as hosts, what might be the format for the continent’s remaining seven teams?
Here, a kind of Nations League seems likely, with all 10 countries involved and a trophy at the end to keep it competitive, with the tournament also serving as the qualifiers. But this, too, has yet to be decided.But amid all the doubt, some things seem certain. With the end of one World Cup cycle and the start of the new, there will inevitably be changes. And in the case of the major powers, these changes seem set to include the position most sacred to South American soccer: the owner of the No. 10 shirt.After yet another huge dose of frustration at the 2026 World Cup — this time not even reaching the quarterfinals — the changes were always going to be brusque with Brazil.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti did keep his job, but announced a much-changed squad for the coming matches, two against Australia and one against India.Elimination to Norway has surely brought the curtain down on the Neymar era. Some in Brazil cling to the hope that there may still be more to come from the eternal promise, but Ancelotti would no longer appear to be among them. The Italian took full responsibility for the defeat to Norway, confessing that the second-half introduction of Neymar had destabilized the team. He has made a point of not blaming any of the players, but he was also quick to make it clear that Neymar is no longer in the mix.So what now?
The obvious move would be to go back to João Pedro of Chelsea, the player who lost his place in the squad when Neymar was recalled.Ancelotti certainly looked sheepish about the exclusion of João Pedro on the day that he called up his World Cup party, and brought him straight back in for these games. But the Chelsea man has since picked up an injury and will have to wait until the next international window, which runs from Nov. 9-17.The whole Neymar issue probably has at least as much to do with psychology as it does with finding a new No. 10. Ancelotti saw the late-career, reduced mobility Neymar much more as a central striker than as someone with playmaking duties. The key question is this: Who is going to take responsibility for leading the attack?The players clearly wanted Neymar to be included in the World Cup squad.
A possible criticism of them, voiced in the Brazilian press, was that this was a means of avoiding responsibility, of hiding behind the prestige of Neymar. True or not, that is no longer an option.After a good individual World Cup, Vinícius Júnior is clearly ready. But what about Raphinha?The Barcelona man picked up a frustrating injury during the World Cup. But while he was on the field, there was little evidence of the penetrative flair that he’s displayed to light up the start of the LaLiga season.
In attacking terms, it seems clear that Ancelotti’s main task is to get the best out of Raphinha.There is, though, one glaringly obvious difference between Barcelona and the current Brazil team — the quality of the midfield. Ancelotti has identified this sector as Brazil’s weak point. Even while in control against Norway, Brazil had less possession — which the coach sees as a consequence of the characteristics of the players.He is happy with the resources at his disposal in defense and attack, but his long-term priority is to develop the type of midfielders capable of controlling the game.All eyes, then, will be on youngsters like Gabriel Bontempo of Santos, the left-footed Breno Bidon of Corinthians and the late arrival Martinelli of Fluminense (no relation to the ex-Arsenal winger). The recalled Andrey Santos and Douglas Luiz will fight for the holding role that used to belong to Casemiro, while these newcomers will hope to make an international name for themselves alongside World Cup remnants Bruno Guimarães and Danilo Santos.One of the golden rules of this sport is that the stars shine brightest when the collective balance of the team is correct.
Ancelotti hopes that he can improve Brazil’s midfield sufficiently to give the attacking players a better platform from which to show their stuff. And this, in the mind of the coach, is the key to the post-Neymar era.If Neymar has often proved controversial in Brazil, then Lionel Messi has been a unanimity for Argentina over the last glorious few years. But now the end has come, and he will face the final curtain against Benin in Buenos Aires on Oct. 6. This will surely be a stirring occasion.
But in the long term, the two previous games in Córdoba — against Bolivia and Burkina Faso — are more important. These matches pose the dreaded question: what on earth are Argentina going to do without him?Soccer history makes the size of the task all too clear. Brazil struggled for decades after Pelé, as did Argentina once Diego Maradona had retired. Can Argentina come up with a more successful transition?Coach Lionel Scaloni has, with a few additions here and there, effectively called up the World Cup squad.
In part, this serves as a farewell — possibly even for Scaloni, whose contract is up at the end of the year — but it also allows for a controlled experiment. The task of the new No. 10 is eased by being surrounded by the same old structure.Argentina have been without Messi before as he only started 10 of the 18 qualifiers for the last World Cup. The usual move in his absence was to have his slot filled by the talent, lung power and versatility of striker Julián Álvarez. Whatever happens, Álvarez remains a vital part of Argentina’s future.
But it is certainly worth having a look at a specialist No. 10, and the next taxi off the rank as the great post-Messi hope, is Nico Paz of Como.The son of a former Argentina defender, Paz has been attracting rave reviews for his Serie A performances. So far, in 11 games, Argentina have got little out of him. With both players wanting the ball played to their feet, it proved hard to fit him in the same lineup as Messi. That will no longer be a problem.
Paz will surely be given an extended run — although there could be competition from another youngster loaned out from Real Madrid to Serie A.=Franco Mastantuono has made a fine start to the season with Fiorentina, and will also be anxious to make his mark. And once he has shaken off an injury, Thiago Almada will also be in contention, and after joining River Plate, he is now able to make his case on a weekly basis in front of the Argentine public.Like Neymar and especially late-era Messi lit up for their respective countries in ways which will not be forgotten, it will serve as inspiration for a new generation anxious to write a history of their own. The opening chapter starts now.
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