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When asked if Messi would continue to lead Argentina at the mega event next year, Scaloni said that the decision would entirely depend on the eight-time Balon d’Or winner.
Lionel Scaloni, Lionel Messi. (X)
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni remains unbothered about the availability of captain Lionel Messi for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, scheduled to be hosted in the USA, Mexico and Canada in 2026. La Albiceleste have already proven their worth without Messi. They recently overcame Uruguay and Brazil in consecutive World Cup qualifiers. Messi missed both the fixtures due to a low-grade muscle injury. Despite playing without their captain, Argentina ran riot against their South African rivals. They defeated Uruguay by one goal before registering a dominant 4-1 victory over Brazil to seal their berth in the 2026 World Cup campaign.
Now, the question is whether Messi will continue to lead Argentina at the mega event next year. When asked about the possibility, Scaloni said that the decision would entirely depend on Messi. The Inter Miami superstar has been ruled out on several occasions due to injury issues. He might take his final call on the World Cup later this year considering his fitness.
“We will see what happens, there’s plenty of time. We must go one game at a time otherwise, we will be speaking about the same thing the rest of the year and we need to leave him alone, we will see. He will decide it whenever he wants, let’s not drive him crazy with this,” Scaloni said, as quoted by ESPN.
Despite winning the recent international fixtures on a dominant note, the Argentine players certainty missed the presence of Messi on the field. Striker Julian Alvarez felt that they would be able to score more against Brazil if the former Barcelona man had played.
“With Messi, we might have scored two or three more goals,” Alvarez, who struck the opener against Brazil, said after the match in Buenos Aires.
Messi was last seen in action for Inter Miami earlier this month. He started in a Major League Soccer (MLS) game against Atlanta United, which the Herons won 2-1.
While his availability for the next World Cup is yet to be confirmed, Messi, along with the Argentina national team, is set to come to India later this year. They will play an exhibition match in Kerala in October. HSBC India has collaborated with the AFA to arrange the fixture.
Keywords: Lionel Messi, FIFA World Cup 2026, Lionel Scaloni, Lionel Messi World Cup availability, Lionel Scaloni decision, Messi injury concerns, Inter Miami