New Delhi: Argentina head coach has opened up about international farewell amid uncertainty about his own future in charge of the national team.
Messi is set to play his last international match for Argentina in the upcoming friendly against Benin at Buenos Aires’ Monumental Stadium on October 6. The match comes after the 2022 World Cup winner announced in late August that he would bring his international career to an end.
“I believe that a player like him deserves that. And I personally contributed my bit because I want to be at his farewell. And since today I don’t know if I would be available later on, we made an effort so that he could be in this match,” Scaloni said at a news conference Thursday.
“We knew everything he was going through, and yet he put in the desire and effort to come and say goodbye with his people, with the people who love him so much. And I think if there’s a tribute to be made, it should be done now, because later on, the magic might not be the same. And I believe now is the time for him to feel that love from everyone, he added.
In the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Messi featured in all eight matches and scored eight goals. He finished his national team career as its all-time highest scorer with 125 goals, 21 of which came in World Cups.
‘There will never be anyone like Messi’
The Argentina head coach further added that it is an ultimate experience for him to coach Messi and it’s very rare for a player like him to come along.
“It was a dream. I told him so, and I’ll say it for the rest of my life. There will never be anyone like him. It’s very rare for a player like that to come along — not just because of what he does on the pitch, but because of everything he conveys off it. Let’s enjoy this,” Scaloni said.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi has again been shortlisted for the prestigious award, with this year’s winner set to be announced on October 26.
Scaloni also hinted that his tenure as Argentina head coach was over after the team suffered a defeat in the World Cup final against Spain. But now, the coach said that he is willing to negotiate an extension of his contract, which expires in December.
“We will talk, there is every willingness to sit down. There is certainly a desire to be here, but there are a lot of aspects we need to discuss with the president of the Argentine Football Association, Claudio Tapia,” Scaloni added.
His remarks came after several Argentine players publicly called for him to stay with the team, including the new captain, Cristian Romero, who is taking the charge after Messi’s international retirement. Scaloni has guided Argentina to a World Cup title (2022) and two Copa América victories (2021 and 2024).