New Delhi: will not pressure to feature at the 2028 Copa America, with the football association president Claudio Tapia saying that the decision will remain entirely with him.
The national team will continue to respect Messi’s decision on when he wants to play for the national team.
Messi is yet to discuss his future with the national team after his outstanding campaign at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he netted 8 goals and provided four assists to help Argentina reach the final.
“It is entirely his own personal decision. I enjoyed watching him on the pitch; he was the standard-bearer for this World Cup, just as he has been in every competition he’s played in. He has to feel like it. Back in 2022, we didn’t know if he’d be playing in 2026,” said Argentina Football Association president Tapia to TyC Sports.
Tapia further added that Messi was taking it one match at a time. The Argentina captain was named the most valuable player at the 2022 World Cup after leading his country to the title.
He has made 207 appearances for Argentina and netted 125 goals in 21 years career. He also lifted the Copa America trophy in 2021 and 2024.
“We should be proud of him. May Messi continue to enjoy playing football, and may we enjoy watching him, and may he make the decision he feels is right,” he added.
Tapia hopes Scaloni continues as Argentina head coach
The president is hoping to convince head coach Lionel Scaloni to continue his job with Argentina. Scaloni’s contract expires at the end of this year, and he said after the team’s 1-0 defeat to Spain in the World Cup final that he would evaluate his future.
“My plan A, my plan B and my plan C is Scaloni. I want him to carry on; we all want him to carry on. I have to respect his decision; let him think it over and make whatever decision he believes is the right one. I can’t keep him tied down if he feels he doesn’t have the necessary drive or doesn’t see a path to further success,” Tapia said.
Scaloni is the most successful head coach in the history of Argentina. He was appointed interim manager in 2018 and won three major international tournaments in a row, including the 2021 Copa America, 2022 World Cup, and 2024 Copa America.