Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has revealed that the team has learnt to cope without eight-time ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi.
Scaloni, who has led La Albiceleste to two Copa America titles and a FIFA World Cup trophy, stated that the team has reduced their reliance on the Inter Miami star.
Argentina success under Messi
Since making his debut for the senior team in 2005, Lionel Messi has made 192 appearances for Argentina, scoring 112 goals.
La Albiceleste have long relied on Messi’s brilliance to overcome opposition with the former Barcelona star captaining the country to glory in the 2021 and 2023 Copa America, while they also won the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in 2022, as well as the Finalissima in 2022.
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What Scaloni said
“The team is now in a moment where it can play in the same way with Leo [Messi] or without Leo, which used to be more complex in the past as we had to change some players,” Scaloni told reporters ahead of the match in Buenos Aires.
“But now we don’t have this necessity and the team works in the same way, that’s good.”
The 47-year old also expressed readiness for the country’s qualifying match against Colombia on Tuesday.
“It’s a great team, and with great players, and it has a clear style that can put you in trouble,” Scaloni said.
“We’ve analysed it, we’ve shown the players their strengths and what we want to take advantage of. It’s going to be a nice game, especially because we play at home, so it’s good for our people to see the players.”
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What next for Argentina?
Argentina were the first South American side to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in March.
Lionel Scaloni’s side have three more games in qualifying, beginning with Tuesday’s clash against Colombia in Buenos Aires.
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