Real Madrid-bound Franco Mastantuono breaks a Lionel Messi record | OneFootball

Incoming Real Madrid signing Franco Mastantuono secured for himself an altogether noteworthy piece of Argentine football history, in the early hours of Friday.

This came by way of his senior debut in the colours of the Albiceleste.

Argentine marked their return to action earlier today, locking horns with Chile in a 2026 World Cup qualifier.

When all was said and done, Lionel Scaloni’s troops emerged on the right side of a 1-0 result, courtesy of an early strike on the part of Julián Alvarez.

It was the aforementioned Mastantuono, though, who went on to grab the headlines.

This came after the prodigious attacking midfielder – all set to make the move to Real Madrid this summer – became his country’s youngest debutant since the turn of the century.

At just 17 years and 295 days old, Mastantuono was introduced off the bench during the 2nd-half in Santiago.

And in the process, the starlet broke a record held by Argentina icon and eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi, since all the way back in 2005:

Conor Laird – GSFN