Franco Mastantuono was born on 14 August 2007 in Azul, Buenos Aires Province, and rose rapidly through the Argentine system to become one of the nation's most talked about youngsters. He began as a dual-sport talent, reaching a national junior level in tennis before focusing on football, and his early versatility and technique have made him a natural fit for collectors seeking signed shirt and authentic autograph items listed by specialist retailers. Walkouts features his career highlights alongside verified provenance for memorabilia collectors.
Raised in a family of Italian Argentine background, Mastantuono first kicked a ball at age three with River de Azul under the guidance of his father. He later moved to Club Cemento at eleven, before accepting an academy place with River Plate in 2019. His progression through the youth ranks was steady despite the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, and he signed his first professional contract in August 2023, a two year deal with a reported release clause that marked him out as a prospect to watch.
Mastantuono's breakthrough came across the 2023 and 2024 seasons as he moved from youth friendlies into the senior squad. He was part of first team training under Martín Demichelis, and made his competitive bow as a substitute in a Copa de la Liga Profesional match at the end of January 2024. On 8 February 2024 he scored his first senior goal in a Copa Argentina tie against Excursionistas, becoming River Plate's youngest ever goalscorer and eclipsing a club record previously held by Javier Saviola. He later scored from a 28 metre free kick in a Superclásico, becoming the club's youngest scorer in that fixture.
Recognition of his potential led to a high profile move to Real Madrid, announced on 13 June 2025, with the transfer set to take effect on his 18th birthday, 14 August 2025. He was presented by the club on that date, received the number 30 shirt, and made his senior debut for Los Blancos on 19 August 2025. He went on to become the youngest player to start for Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on 16 September 2025, and scored his first goal for the club on 23 September 2025.
Internationally, Mastantuono represented Argentina at youth level before receiving his first senior call up in May 2025. He made his senior debut on 5 June 2025 as a substitute in a 1-0 victory over Chile, becoming his country's youngest official debutant at 17 years and 296 days, a record that underlines his rapid rise.
For collectors, Mastantuono's early achievements, youth records and firsts create clear provenance for signed shirts, authentic autographs and other memorabilia. Verified match dates, competition records and transfer milestones act as provenance anchors, useful when cataloguing or certifying pieces. Items linked to landmark events such as his first senior goal on 8 February 2024, his Superclásico free kick, his Real Madrid presentation on 14 August 2025, and his international debut on 5 June 2025 hold particular narrative value for collectors seeking verified merchandise and authenticated signatures.
Viewed as both a sporting prospect and a subject for memorabilia, Mastantuono combines youthful records and club honours, including a place in the River Plate squad that won the Supercopa Argentina: 2023. His unfolding career offers fresh items for signed shirt collectors and authenticated autograph seekers, and his documented milestones provide robust provenance for official merchandise. As his career progresses, pieces associated with these early landmark dates will remain central to collector stories on Walkouts.
