Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has claimed that superstar Lionel Messi could feature during the 2026 World Cup. The coach made the remarks during an interview with Spanish radio station Calvia FM. Messi would turn 39 during the tournament played in North America.
“I think Messi can reach the next World Cup,” Scaloni said. “He will depend a lot on what he wants and what he goes through over time, that he feels good. The doors will always be open. He is happy in the field, and for us [it] it would be good.”
Despite the comments, Messi previously stated that the 2022 World Cup would be his last. “It’s my last World Cup, for sure,” Messi told ESPN in October. “I am counting the days until the World Cup. There is anxiety and nerves at the same time. Wanting it to be now, what is going to happen and ultimately how is it going to go?
Messi does not slow down before the 2026 World Cup
It’s fair to say that he did pretty well. Messi guided Argentina to their third World Cup title in history, their first with the team. Despite his advanced age, the superstar scored seven goals during the competition and was awarded the best player of the tournament.
However, Messi has suggested that he is not ready to retire yet. He spoke about his future with Argentina after the World Cup final. “I really enjoy being in the national team and being part of this group,” Messi said. “I want to keep experiencing more games [with the national team] as a world champion.
Coach assures that Messi was one of the greats before the World Cup
While winning the World Cup cemented his legacy, Scaloni also claimed Messi didn’t necessarily need to win it to become the greatest of all time. “I think it was not necessary for Messi to win a World Cup to be one of the greats or the greatest,” the coach continued. “It happens that he always asks for more. Now I don’t know what is going to be asked of him”.
“Happy for him, but above all for the country, for the happiness we gave ourselves, because being in Argentina these days, there is a euphoria that was really worth achieving.”
PHOTO: IMAGO / NurPhoto
