Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni says the national team will continue to move forward after Lionel Messi’s international retirement, but it will never be the same without its iconic captain.
Speaking after Argentina’s emphatic 7-0 victory over Burkina Faso, Scaloni reflected on Messi’s impending farewell. The 39-year-old is set to make his final appearance for Argentina against Benin at Buenos Aires’ Monumental Stadium on Tuesday, October 6.
Scaloni admitted that imagining Argentina without Messi is already an emotional experience. Once the forward leaves the national team, he said, memories of his extraordinary career will remain, but Argentina must continue building its future without him.
“The Argentina national team will continue to exist, but the feeling of having him on the pitch is something unique,” Scaloni said. He added that Messi’s ability to influence everyone around him—including teammates, opponents and supporters—is something he has never experienced with another player.
For Scaloni, Messi’s greatest legacy extends beyond his performances during matches. He highlighted the captain’s professionalism in training, saying Messi was often the first to arrive and the last to leave, while taking exceptional care of his fitness and preparation.
“He leaves something incomparable,” Scaloni said, pointing to Messi’s desire to keep improving and his approach to every match. He suggested that these qualities, which teammates witness closely, are an important part of Messi’s legacy even if they are less visible to the wider public.
The atmosphere at the Monumental is expected to be extraordinary for Messi’s farewell. Scaloni joked that even if there had been five Monumental stadiums, all of them would have been filled. He said he had received requests for tickets from people around the world.
Tickets for the match sold out within minutes, and Argentina have prepared a special shirt for Messi’s final appearance with the national team.
Scaloni expects the moment Messi walks onto the pitch to be deeply emotional for the player, his teammates and supporters.
“I imagine emotion from everyone, including him,” Scaloni said. “From the moment he steps onto the Monumental, it will be an unforgettable day for everyone.”
The Argentine coach also said he feels fortunate to be part of Messi’s farewell. In his view, the occasion belongs not only to Messi but also to the teammates who shared the field with him and helped build Argentina’s most successful era.
Argentina have already begun testing life beyond Messi. In the recent friendlies against Bolivia and Burkina Faso, Scaloni gave opportunities to younger players while experimenting with an attacking partnership between Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez. The team scored 11 goals across the two matches, winning 4-0 and 7-0 respectively.
The coach has also confirmed that Messi will wear the No. 10 shirt in the Benin match, while Argentina will decide later who will inherit the iconic number.
Scaloni also addressed his own future with Argentina. He has repeatedly avoided committing to a specific timeline for his continuation, saying he does not feel pressured to remain in the job.
Despite the demands of coaching a national team of Argentina’s stature, Scaloni said maintaining a life outside football is important to him. He has spoken about the need to avoid allowing the enormous responsibilities of the job to consume his entire life and said enjoying his personal life helps him maintain balance.
For now, however, his attention is on Tuesday’s farewell. After more than two decades of Messi wearing the Argentina shirt, the Monumental will provide the setting for the final chapter of his international career—and the beginning of a new era for the world champions.
