Cristian Romero says Argentina will miss Lionel Messi more than expected

Cristian Romero says people will miss Lionel Messi “far more than they think” as the Argentina captain prepares for what is expected to be his final appearance for the national team.

Messi is set to play his last match in an Argentina shirt when they face Benin in a friendly.

“It felt strange not having Messi during this international break,” Romero told TyC. “Of course, this was always going to happen at some point, but I never imagined his absence would affect us in this way.”

Romero, who was named Argentina captain by Messi, said the forward had always led without placing himself above his team-mates.

“Messi was always a leader in his own way and never put himself above anyone else,” he said. “He was the one who chose me as captain of the national team, and for me that is a huge responsibility.

“For him to take that step alongside the manager was, of course, a wonderful thing. I have certainly learned a great deal from him during the six or seven years we have spent together.”

The defender also described how a close friendship had developed between the pair through their time with Argentina.

“The truth is that I loved him, and then I was fortunate enough to join the national team and begin sharing so many things with him,” Romero said. “We built a very beautiful friendship through football, and that makes this difficult for me.”

Romero admitted he had struggled to express his feelings openly and regretted not showing Messi how much he cared.

“My way of expressing love is clumsy and somewhat rough,” he said. “But I told him that I deeply regret not showing him all the affection I have always had for him.

“That is what I will regret. People will miss him far more than they think.”

Messi has announced his retirement from international football after representing Argentina at the 2026 World Cup.