Franco Mastantuono: The 17-Year-Old Who Threatens and Terrifies Boca Juniors
Franco Mastantuono continues to shine in the River Plate jersey. At just 17 years old, the young talent has already showcased his impressive skills: he’s capable of leading the team in attack and finishing plays with goals. It’s a promising start to a career that could very well take him to the top European clubs.
Born in the city of Azul, Buenos Aires Province, his talent was first seen on the tennis courts. Skill seems to be a constant in every sport he played—he even ranked among the top ten in Argentina. Shortly after, he chose to focus on football.
It all began at the Club Atlético River Plate in his hometown, where his father was a coach. He then played for Cemento Armado Fútbol Club, where he won numerous titles before moving to Buenos Aires to join the Millonario. In 2019, he accepted the offer and moved to the capital, making his debut for the youth team in the final match of that season, where they won the championship. The following year, he was registered in the AFA competitions, but the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina.
With his latest goal against Gimnasia de La Plata, Mastantuono has now scored six goals for River. Two came in the Copa Argentina, one in the Copa Libertadores, and the remaining three in the Argentine top division. Considering he's only 17 years and 8 months old, those numbers are truly impressive.
Mastantuono, River's 'Talisman'
Every time Franco has scored, River has won the match. So far, he has six goals wearing the red sash:
- River 3-0 Excursionistas
- Libertad 1-2 River
- River 1-0 Sarmiento
- San Martín de San Juan 0-2 River
- River 2-0 Ciudad de Bolívar
- Gimnasia 0-3 River
As matches go by and we see his playing style, movement, and quality, the new jewel of the Núñez club has everything it takes to become a star at one of football’s most iconic clubs. Both Real Madrid and Barcelona have already inquired about his transfer conditions. However, Mastantuono will only leave if his release clause is triggered: for any European giant, 45 million euros seems like a bargain.
