Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has refused to confirm whether Sunday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup final against Spain will be Lionel Messi’s final appearance for the national team.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference ahead of the highly anticipated showdown at New York New Jersey Stadium, Scaloni said only Messi could decide when his international career comes to an end.
“Is Sunday going to be Messi’s last World Cup match? I don’t know, who knows? You’ll have to ask him. He never stops surprising us,” Scaloni said.
The Argentina coach also paid glowing tribute to the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, describing him as a football legend after Messi praised the current squad.
“Messi told me, ‘We’re pure history,’ but the one who’s truly history is him—a legend. Hearing him say that fills me with pride. To have the greatest footballer the world has ever seen think that about this group is something truly wonderful,” Scaloni added.
Argentina will take on Spain in Sunday’s final as La Albiceleste seek to become the first nation in 64 years to successfully defend the FIFA World Cup title.
Messi, 39, is featuring in his sixth World Cup tournament—an achievement matched by only two other players in history. The Argentine captain led his country to World Cup glory in Qatar four years ago, and the 2026 final is widely expected to be his last appearance on football’s biggest stage, although no official announcement has been made.
Comments