Goal efficiency
How clinical and direct the player was in front of goal — volume, accuracy, and conversion.
Atletico Madrid · Copa America · Defender · #21 · Argentina · 27 yrs
C. Romero plays as a defender for Atletico Madrid. C. Romero is a Argentine international, 27 years old, defender, currently at Atletico Madrid. C. Romero wears shirt number 21 for Atletico Madrid. C. Romero was born in Córdoba, Argentina on 1998-04-27. C. Romero is 185 cm tall and weighs 78 kg. C. Romero's Sportra profile tracks season statistics across Copa America, Friendlies, World Cup, World Cup - Qualification South America, and other leagues. C. Romero's page brings together career clubs, trophies, injury history, multi-competition stats, and related news headlines. On Sportra you can explore C. Romero season statistics, transfer history, trophies, injury updates, and related news across every competition tracked in the profile.
| Season | Team |
|---|---|
| 2026 |  Argentina ARG |
| 2025 | Argentina ARG |
| 2025 |  Tottenham TOT |
| 2024 | Argentina ARG |
| 2024 | Tottenham TOT |
| Date | Type | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-14 | Transfer | Tottenham TOT |  Atletico Madrid ATM |
| 2026-08-13 | Transfer | Tottenham TOT | Atletico Madrid ATM |
| 2022-08-30 | € 50M |  Atalanta ATA | Tottenham TOT |
Argentina ARGSeason intelligence
Profile as Defender: defensive work, high usage. Archetype: Ball-winning midfielder. Season rating 7.3.
Scaled 0–99 from season output — map to fantasy, comparisons, or scouting cards.
Per-90 rates, efficiency ratios, and Sportra indices from season totals.
How clinical and direct the player was in front of goal — volume, accuracy, and conversion.
Playmaking output: assists, key passes, and custom chance-creation signals.
Isolation threat and progressive carrying — volume plus success rate.
How often they draw fouls and stay out of trouble with cards.
Tackles, duels, and off-ball defensive contribution.
Shot-stopping, goals conceded, and penalty saves.
Minutes, availability, and how central they were to the team.
Every tracked category for this league and season, grouped by Sportra.
With Lionel Messi's retirement from the Argentina national team, several players could be in line to inherit the iconic No. 10 shirt. With Lionel Messi’s retirement from the Argentina national team now confirmed, one of the more symbolic questions is who takes over the iconic No. 10 shirt. There is no official word yet on how the decision will be made, and it remains largely speculative at this point, but a handful of names stand out as logical candidates given their standing within the squad. Unlike the captaincy, which typically falls to the most senior or respected figure in the dressing room and now looks set to go to Cristian Romero, the No. 10 carries a different kind of weight in Argentine football, tied directly to the legacies of Diego Maradona and now Messi himself. Whoever wears it next won’t just be filling a number on the roster, they’ll be stepping into a symbol that carries decades of history and expectation. Several established figures within the current squad could realistically be handed the shirt. Enzo Fernandez and Alexis Mac Allister both carry significant weight in the dressing room and have been core pieces of this Argentina cycle, while Thiago Almada has continued to develop into an increasingly important creative option for Scaloni. Nico Paz, still just breaking into the senior squad, rounds out the list as a longer-term bet given his familiarity with the number at club level with Como. There’s also the possibility that Scaloni opts to hold off entirely, letting the number sit without a clear owner for a stretch while the new-look Argentina finds its footing in the post-Messi era. Franco Mastantuono is the last player other than Lionel Messi to wear the No. 10 jersey for Argentina. (Getty Images) Who wore the 10 when Messi wasn’t there The most direct precedent dates back to September 2025, when Franco Mastantuono wore the No. 10 shirt in Argentina’s World Cup qualifier defeat to Ecuador, with Messi left out of that squad entirely. Going back more than a decade, several others have worn the No. 10 for Argentina whenever Messi wasn’t available: PlayerLast time wearing No. 10Lionel MessiJuly 2026Franco MastantuonoSeptember 2025Angel CorreaMarch 2025Paulo DybalaSeptember 2024Sergio AgueroOctober 2016Ever BanegaSeptember 2016Angel Di MariaNovember 2015Javier PastoreOctober 2015Erik LamelaJune 2015Walter MontilloNovember 2012
The legendary forward's departure brings an end to an era defined by trophies, unforgettable moments, and a captain who became synonymous with the national team, while a new figure now appears ready to take on the responsibility. Lionel Messi‘s decision to step away from international soccer has left Argentina facing one of the biggest leadership changes in its modern history. The legendary forward’s departure brings an end to an era defined by trophies, unforgettable moments, and a captain who became synonymous with the national team, while a new figure now appears ready to take on the responsibility. Messi’s exit leaves a significant void in the dressing room, particularly after more than two decades representing Argentina. The national team has enjoyed an extraordinary period of success under Lionel Scaloni, and the question now is who can carry that winning mentality into the next chapter. His international career lasted 21 years, during which he became Argentina’s all-time leading scorer and appearance maker while finally delivering the major trophies that had eluded him for so long. Argentina won the 2021 and 2024 Copa America, as well as the 2022 World Cup, turning a previously frustrating international career into one of the greatest success stories in soccer history. His final chapter came at the 2026 World Cup, after which the 39-year-old decided that the time had come to step aside. With Messi leaving and Nicolas Otamendi also no longer occupying his previous leadership role, Argentina suddenly needed a new central figure to wear the armband. Several candidates could have filled the position. Emiliano Martinez brings enormous personality and has repeatedly delivered in major matches, while Rodrigo De Paul has been one of the most vocal members of the squad during the Messi era. Lautaro Martinez #22, Cristian Romero #13, Emiliano Martinez #23 and Lionel Messi #10 of Argentina sing the national anthem Lautaro Martinez also has leadership credentials after becoming captain at club level, while Julian Alvarez and Enzo Fernandez represent younger options who could eventually become central figures for Argentina. Enzo, in particular, offers an intriguing long-term possibility because of his age, experience and previous captaincy responsibilities while at Chelsea. Cole Palmer of Chelsea hands the captain badge to Enzo Fernandez Argentina finds its new leader: Who will succeed Messi’s armband? However, one player has emerged ahead of the rest. According to various Argentina news outlets, including TVC News, Cristian Romero has been handed the Argentina captaincy following Messi’s retirement, marking the beginning of a new leadership era for the world champions. The 28-year-old defender had already been part of the nation’s leadership group, previously serving behind Messi and Otamendi in the captaincy hierarchy. He has also worn the armband when senior figures were unavailable, giving him experience of the responsibility before receiving the permanent role. Lionel Messi #10 and Cristian Romero #13 of Argentina celebrate Romero’s personality makes the decision particularly understandable. The Atletico Madrid defender is one of the strongest voices in the Argentina dressing room, while his aggressive style and constant communication have made him a natural emotional leader within Scaloni’s side. His importance to Argentina has grown considerably since establishing himself as a defensive cornerstone. He played a key role in the team’s 2021 Copa America triumph, the 2022 World Cup victory and the 2024 continental success, before again emerging as an important figure during the 2026 World Cup. Messi’s words make Romero’s promotion even more significant Romero’s appointment also carries an important personal connection to Messi. The former captain has previously praised his younger teammate’s contribution to Argentina’s defensive strength, describing his impact as “extraordinary.” That endorsement adds another layer to the transi
Argentina could organize a farewell match for Lionel Messi during the next FIFA window, according to reports, though the idea still depends on Messi's willingness. Argentina could organize a farewell match for Lionel Messi during the upcoming FIFA international window, according to Mariano Antico, the national team insider for TyC Sports. The report comes just days after Messi announced his retirement from the Albiceleste on August 31, closing the book on a 207-cap career that included 125 goals and six titles, most notably the 2022 World Cup. The idea centers on the September 21-October 6 FIFA window, during which Argentina is expected to schedule as many as three or four friendlies. Reports have floated El Monumental as a candidate venue for what would be Messi’s true farewell appearance on home soil, following his emotional letter announcing the decision. Antico was careful to frame the plan as still just an idea at this stage, stressing that the Argentine Football Association would first need to confirm whether Messi himself is even open to the concept before any organization could begin. Nothing has been finalized regarding a rival, date, or venue, and the tribute match remains contingent on discussions between the federation and Messi that have yet to take place. Ver esta publicación en Instagram Una publicación compartida por Leo Messi (@leomessi) If the plan does come together, it would give Argentine fans the chance to say a formal goodbye to their captain in a way the World Cup final defeat to Spain did not allow. For now, though, the farewell match remains speculative, with the AFA expected to provide more clarity as the September FIFA window approaches. Who takes over the captaincy? With Messi’s international career over, the next question becomes who inherits the armband. Cristian Romero looks like the leading candidate, having already worn the captain’s band on a handful of occasions when Messi wasn’t available, and he’s regarded as a natural leader in the dressing room alongside his role at Atletico Madrid. Still, he’s not the only name in the conversation, with Emiliano “Dibu” Martinez and Enzo Fernandez also mentioned as possible successors given their standing and experience within the squad. Complicating the picture further, Nicolas Otamendi, who typically wore the armband whenever Messi wasn’t in the starting lineup, had already announced his own retirement from the national team right after the World Cup, leaving Argentina without its usual next-in-line option as it enters a new era.
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