Argentina take the field for their first friendly since the World Cup. With Lionel Messi having announced his retirement from the national team in between, everyone had assumed this squad for the friendlies would mark the start of a new chapter. And indeed it does. But this 22-year-old left-back has not yet become the kind of star who draws special attention on his own. Whenever Argentina’s squad is announced, all eyes naturally go to whoever is new. With Messi’s departure from the national team announced last month, interest among fans was even higher this time, as everyone was waiting to see what a post-Messi Argentina national team would look like.
But because Messi himself remained in this squad too, the fact that Roman Vega received his first-ever national team call-up likely slipped past many. Argentine media outlets, however, say Roman is the biggest surprise in the squad. According to TyC Sports, Roman, who plays for Russian club Zenit Saint Petersburg, could solve a problem position for Argentina where the squad has a shortage of options. Vega’s primary position is left-back, but he can also play as a midfielder or as a second central defender.
Meanwhile, Nicolás Tagliafico has long served Argentina in the left-back position. He is now 34. Someone therefore needs to be developed for this position before the next World Cup. It is likely with this thinking that Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni called Vega into the squad. Vega is a left-footed player who can tirelessly run up and down the wing. On his way forward in attack, he frequently dribbles past opposing players. His speed, ability to read the game, footwork, ball control and powerful shot have already drawn considerable attention.
His path up mirrors that of Argentinos Juniors, the club that has produced stars such as Diego Maradona, Juan Román Riquelme, Fernando Redondo and Alexis Mac Allister for world football — earning the club the nickname “the nursery of world football” in some quarters. Vega came up through this very club. He made his debut in Argentina’s top flight for the club in 2021, having come through its age-group teams.
Born in Buenos Aires in 2004, Vega was sent on a one-year loan to Barcelona at age 18 for €50,000 by Argentinos Juniors. Although there was an option to buy him permanently for €4.5 million later, Barcelona did not take that path. After playing 17 matches for the Catalan club’s “B” team, Vega returned once again to the Argentine club. He gradually became a regular in Argentinos Juniors’ starting eleven, scoring one goal and providing three assists in 63 matches across all competitions for the club.
Zenit Saint Petersburg signed Vega for $9 million in July 2025, on a five-year contract. He has also been called up to Argentina’s age-group teams, appearing five times for the under-20 side and twice for the under-23 side, including featuring at the under-20 World Cup. Though he was not initially a regular in Zenit’s first team, he now plays regularly. Last season, he played 14 matches on the way to winning the Russian Super League, appearing in 23 matches across the season in total. This year, he also won the Russian Super Cup. In all, Vega has played 34 matches for the Russian club so far.
Interestingly, just six months after Vega joined Zenit, then-River Plate coach Marcelo Gallardo made a strong push to sign him for the Argentine club, though those negotiations never came to fruition. Argentine media believe that if Vega maintains his form at club level, he could become a regular fixture at left-back for the Argentina national team.
There is little doubt Vega will make that effort himself. At least, that is the impression left by his Instagram story after receiving his first national team call-up: “What I dreamed of.” Vega’s dream, then, has come true. Now it is Argentine fans’ turn to see their own dream fulfilled. Can he deliver?
Argentina will play three friendlies during this international break. The first match is against Bolivia in Córdoba on September 30. Scaloni’s side then face Burkina Faso in Buenos Aires on October 3. The final friendly comes against Benin on October 6. Whatever Vega needs to do to catch Scaloni’s eye, he will have to do it in these matches.