Coaching him has been a pleasure: Emotional Scaloni hopes Messi isn’t playing last Argentina home game

Coaching him has been a pleasure: Emotional Scaloni hopes Messi isn’t playing last Argentina home game

Lionel Messi will likely play his last competitive game on home soil for Argentina when it takes on Venezuela, at Buenos Aires, in a FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier, and an emotional Lionel Scaloni said that he deserves a special reception when he takes the field.

The World Cup-winning Albiceleste captain has not confirmed any date for his international retirement, but confirmed last week that the match against Venezuela will likely be his last time playing at home in Argentina colours.

“Yes, this is a match which Leo has said will be emotional, special, nice because it’s true that it’s our last qualifying match,” Scaloni said, wiping his tears during a media appearance ahead of the match. “We have to enjoy it as we’ve always been saying.

“More than anyone, I will enjoy it. Having been able to coach him has honestly been a pleasure, and let’s hope that fans who go to the stadium will also enjoy it, because he truly deserves it.

“Tomorrow will be a nice match. Exciting. I’m sure that it won’t be his last game in Argentina, and I say that we’ll make sure that if he decides it’s the last game, we play another because it’s obvious to do that in the right moment and because he deserves it.”

Despite no official confirmation, reports suggest that Messi will retire from the national team after next year’s World Cup, where Argentina is going to defend the title.

The qualifiers for the 2030 World Cup will begin in 2027, when the Inter Miami star will be 40 years old.

As Argentina looks ahead to the World Cup, Scaloni said as of now, there are no concrete plans for the team’s preparations ahead of the quadrennial event.

Asked whether the Finalissima will happen against European champion Spain, Scaloni said, “It’s not certain that the game will be played because it’s still not clear whether Spain will finish as group leaders [in UEFA qualifying]. If they aren’t group leaders in March, the game can’t be played. So, there’s a question mark there. We’ll have to wait to see what happens, and we’ll have to wait to confirm our games,” said the Argentina manager.

“And it’s the same with June. We’ll have to find teams to play if we want to play them here. It’s not easy to get teams to come and play here. It’s the same old problem we’ve always had, especially after the introduction of the Nations League, where the Europeans play among themselves. We don’t have the opportunity to go to Europe to play because they’re all busy. So, everything has become more complicated in recent years,” he added.

Published on Sep 04, 2025