Argentina’s national coach Lionel Scaloni obviously doesn’t quite want to reconcile the prospect of World Cups being held without Lionel Messi in the future.
The 35-year-old soccer superstar recently announced that the upcoming World Cup would be his last. Scaloni told CNN Radio Argentina: “It may be the last, I hope not.”
Scaloni: Messi makes people happy
Messi is happy when he’s on the pitch, and Messi in turn makes a lot of people happy, stressed Scaloni, who has coached Messi with the national team since the summer of 2018. He had taken over the post after the completely messed up World Cup for the Argentines in Russia.
The Albiceleste failed with Messi in the round of 16 at eventual World Cup winners France. Last year, Messi won his first major title with the Copa America under Scaloni. Argentina are unbeaten in 35 games ahead of their final friendly against the United Arab Emirates on November 16. Two games are still missing to equal Italy’s record.
If they take care of Messi and wear him the way they have to, “there could possibly be more games for him,” Scaloni said: “Because the world of football demands it.”
Messi’s first World Cup 2006 in Germany
Messi, who played his first World Cup in Germany in 2006 with Argentina, recently told Star TV: “Is this my last World Cup? Yes, of course.” He would count down the days until the World Cup: “I want it to start now and I’m already thinking about what will happen and how it will go for us because it will be the last.” The superstar, who now plays for Paris Saint-Germain, failed three times with Argentina at Germany, in 2006 and 2010 in the quarter-finals, in 2014 in the final of Brazil.
The South Americans start in Qatar with the game against Saudi Arabia on November 22nd. Four days later, the opponent is Mexico, in the last group game on November 30th Argentina meets Poland with the world footballer of the past year, Robert Lewandowski.
