After lifting the trophy for the first time in Qatar on Sunday, Lionel Scaloni thinks there will be a spot for Lionel Messi on Argentina’s 2026 World Cup squad if he changes his mind.
In an extraordinary final against France, which the Albiceleste won 4-2 on penalties after a dramatic 3-3 draw, Messi scored twice.
After Messi and Angel Di Maria gave Argentina a 2-0 lead at the half, it appeared that they would easily win. However, Kylian Mbappe’s late double forced extra time. In the extra 30 minutes, Messi gave the Copa America champions the lead once again, but Mbappe responded with a hat-trick-tying goal to square the score once more and force penalties.
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Kingsley Coman and Aurelien Tchouameni were unsuccessful in the shoot-out. Gonzalo Montiel won the game for Argentina by converting his penalty kick.
Despite having previously declared that this would be his final World Cup, 35-year-old Messi said that he will continue to compete at the international level.
If he changes his mind, the captain will be chosen in four years, according to Argentina’s head coach Scaloni.
“First of all we need to save him a spot for the next World Cup,” Scaloni told reporters. “If he wants to keep playing, he’ll be with us.
“He’s more than entitled to decide if he wants to keep playing for Argentina or not, or what he wants to do with his career.”
