Scaloni: He didn’t talk to Messi about the 2026 World Cup; Argentina has a solid base

Scaloni Confirms: Messi and the 2026 World Cup

Buenos Aires – Lionel Scaloni, the strategist of the Argentine national team, revealed this Monday that he has not yet spoken with Lionel Messi about his possible participation in the next World Cup. The coach, however, made it clear that he respects any decision made by the Argentine star.

“I didn’t speak with Messi about the next World Cup. Whatever he decides is fine,” Scaloni stated in a press conference.

Lionel Scaloni

Scaloni also stated that the team already has a solid base of players for the World Cup. Although he did not specify the exact percentage of the final list, the coach suggested that there will be no big surprises in the call-up. The coach highlighted the importance of the match against Ecuador, which will be a good test for the team. In addition, Scaloni announced that he will make some changes in the lineup, giving opportunities to players who have had fewer minutes. Among the players who could have more participation are Lautaro Martínez and Alexis Mac Allister, who are available to the coach.

Regarding Ecuador, Scaloni praised their performance, highlighting that they have been playing well for a while. The Argentinian coach emphasized the difficulty that facing them will represent. Scaloni also spoke about the comparison between the national team’s performance in the qualifiers prior to the 2022 World Cup and the current ones, noting that the team has maintained its identity and style of play. Finally, Scaloni referred to Nicolás Otamendi, who played his last home match of the World Cup qualifiers, and confirmed that he will be the captain in the match against Ecuador.