Sergio Aguero names the three players he thinks will step up and become Argentina's 'next leaders' after Lionel Messi retires

Sergio Aguero has named three players he thinks will carry the torch for Argentina whenever his great friend Lionel Messi retires from international football.

Messi and his Argentina team-mates are attempting to follow up their World Cup triumph with Copa America glory this summer.

They are on course to do so having won all three group games to set up a quarter-final clash with Ecuador on Thursday night.

Messi hasn't been quite as influential as he was in Qatar, having registered no goals and one assist in the tournament at this stage.

Lautaro Martinez has been the star of the show so far with four goals in three appearances.

This isn't particularly shocking with Messi having just turned 37 years old and Argentina fans are starting to consider what life will be like without their main man in the future.

And Aguero believes there are three men who are ready to step in and fill what will be a sizeable void.

'In my opinion our next leaders will be Julian Álvarez, Alexis Mac Allister, and Enzo Fernandez,' he told Stake.com.

'Some say Emiliano Martinez, but the goalkeeper's roles are different, they have a different type of leadership. But I think that towards the future, those are the players.' 

All three of those stars ply their trade in the Premier League with an average age of just 24.

They all played big roles in La Albiceleste's World Cup victory and Aguero is confident they can continue to have a big influence on the national team.