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Argentina’s head coach Lionel Scaloni has revealed that he is keen for Lionel Messi to continue representing the national team, admitting that the thought of life after the number 10 evokes the same sadness felt when Diego Maradona stepped away from the game. As the South American champions gear up for the 2026 World Cup, the 38-year-old Inter Miami forward’s future has become the most discussed subject among fans and pundits alike.

Scaloni urges Messi to continue playing

In a conversation with Conmebol, Scaloni openly shared his wish to see Messi on the pitch for as long as possible. The Argentina captain, who has earned 198 caps and scored 116 goals for his country, famously led the Albiceleste to World Cup triumph in Qatar in 2022, in addition to two Copa America titles. Although Argentina have already submitted their initial 55-man list for the forthcoming tournament, Scaloni made it clear he is not ready to bid farewell to his captain just yet. Refusing to look too far ahead, he said, “Watching him play is something extraordinary. Whether or not this turns out to be his final World Cup doesn’t matter to me right now. I don’t like dwelling on what’s to come — I prefer to enjoy the present. Everyone wants to see him on the field.”

Drawing a poignant parallel with Maradona

The emotional challenge of preparing for life without a footballing icon is not lost on Scaloni, who compared the situation to Argentina’s experience after Diego Maradona’s retirement. Maradona, who led the nation to the 1986 World Cup title, remains an irreplaceable figure in football history. Scaloni admitted that imagining a team without Messi is difficult, saying, “I want to believe he will continue to play, because the idea of not seeing him anymore, like what happened with Diego, is truly saddening. They are players who shaped the history of this sport. Thinking that he might not play again leaves you uneasy. I prefer to focus on the present.”

A dream duo for Argentina

The three-time world champions continue their pursuit of a fourth title, having recently recorded 2-1 and 5-0 friendly wins over Mauritania and Zambia. When asked how he would have managed both Messi and Maradona in the same side, Scaloni responded that their coexistence would have caused no tactical conflicts. “Of course, they would have played together in my Argentina team. I don’t build systems based solely on the coach’s ideas — the players come first. They were the best in the world, capable of adapting and complementing each other naturally. The real problem would have been for the opponents,” he noted.

What lies ahead for the reigning champions

As Argentina prepare for their World Cup Group J campaign, they are scheduled to face Honduras on 7 June and Iceland on 10 June in warm-up matches. The title defence begins on 17 June against Algeria, followed by fixtures against Austria on 22 June and Jordan on 28 June. Scaloni and his players hope their inspirational captain can once again lead them to glory on football’s biggest stage.