Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has insisted the Albiceleste will keep a spot for Lionel Messi at the 2026 FIFA World Cup should he decide he wants to play.
Messi, 35, will be 39 during the next World Cup which will take place in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
He stated before the final that Sunday’s match – win or lose – would be his last World Cup match. Some even thought the World Cup final would be his final international match, but after lifting the Jules Rimet trophy Messi insisted he will not retire just yet.
Messi’s comments came before his coach insisted Argentina will reserve him a spot in their 2026 World Cup squad, should he decide he wants to play.
“We need to save him for the next World Cup – 2026. If Leo wants to keep playing, then he will be with us. He is more than entitled to decide what he wants to do with his career now,” Scaloni said, as quotes by the Mirror.
“It’s such a huge pleasure to coach him and his team mates because everything he transmits to his teammates is incredible. He gives us so much.”
Scaloni also praised the rest of his squad after they overcame several setbacks, with France coming back from 2-0 down inside the 90 minutes and 3-2 down in extra-time, forcing the penalty shootout during which Argentina finally prevailed.
“I am so proud. I am so happy to be World Cup winners. We should have won the match in 90 minutes, then extra-time but we were fighters and we were very strong. We kept fighting because we wanted the win so much.
“These players play for the people, they play for the Argentina fans, they play for the whole country. The players broke their backs because they understood what they had to do on the pitch and we are very, very happy and proud.”
