Real Madrid’s New Wonderkid Franco Mastantuono Crowns Lionel Messi as the Best in the World

Real Madrid’s latest signing, Franco Mastantuono, may now call the Santiago Bernabéu home, but when it comes to naming the best player in the world, his heart is firmly with fellow Argentine icon, Lionel Messi.

The 17-year-old midfielder, signed from River Plate and unveiled in Madrid on Thursday, was asked to pick the world’s top footballer—and his answer came without hesitation.

“I am Argentine and for me the best player in the world is Lionel Messi, I don’t have much more to say,” Mastantuono told reporters.

Mastantuono’s admiration for Messi comes as no surprise. The teenager recently etched his name into the history books as the youngest player to make his debut for Argentina in an official match, following in the footsteps of the very man he calls the greatest.

Before making the leap to Spain, Mastantuono played 61 matches for River Plate, scoring 10 goals and earning a reputation as one of South America’s brightest prospects.

Opinion:
There’s something refreshingly honest about Mastantuono’s choice. In an era where club loyalty often dictates public comments, especially at a club like Real Madrid—where Cristiano Ronaldo’s name is sacred—the young Argentine still speaks from the heart.

It’s a gentle reminder that football greatness transcends club rivalry. Yes, Mastantuono now wears white, and yes, the Madrid-Barça rivalry is one of the fiercest in sports—but respect for Messi’s genius is a unifying truth among many players, even those on the opposite side of the clásico divide.

If anything, it’s admirable. A 17-year-old in the pressure cooker of Madrid has already shown he’s not afraid to speak his truth, even if it ruffles feathers. And perhaps, one day, fans will talk about Mastantuono with the same reverence he now reserves for Messi.