Argentina will not pressure Messi: "The decision about his future is his alone"
Association president Claudio Tapia made it clear that no pressure will be applied on the 39-year-old star to continue until the 2028 Copa America: "Let him continue to enjoy football and decide what is right for him." And what about Scaloni?
The Argentina national team continues to keep the door open for Lionel Messi, but clarifies that they will not apply any pressure on him to continue until the 2028 Copa America. The president of the Argentine Football Association, Claudio Tapia, clarified that the 39-year-old star will be the one to decide for himself when to end his journey in the national colors.
Messi has not yet addressed his future in the national team after his impressive 2026 World Cup, in which he scored eight goals and assisted four others on Argentina's path to the final. In an interview with TyC Sports, Tapia commented on the possibility of Messi playing in the 2028 Copa America:
"It is entirely his personal decision. I enjoyed watching him on the pitch. He was our flag-bearer in this World Cup, as in every tournament he played in. He needs to feel that he wants it."
Tapia recalled that even after winning the 2022 World Cup, it was not clear if Messi would continue until 2026. "Back then we didn't know if he would play in the next World Cup. He said he was taking it 'game by game', and in the end we saw him at his peak, if not his greatest peak. We should be proud of him. Let him continue to enjoy football, so that we can continue to enjoy watching him, and let him make the decision he feels is right for him."
At the same time, Argentina is also dealing with the future of coach Lionel Scaloni. The 48-year-old coach's contract will end at the end of the year, and after the 1-0 loss to Spain in extra time in the World Cup final, he announced that he would examine his future path.
For Tapia, however, there is no preferred alternative:
"My plan A, plan B, and plan C is Scaloni. I want him to continue, we all want him to continue. But I have to respect his decision. Let him think and decide what is right for him. I cannot tie him to the position if he feels he does not have the necessary drive or that he does not see a way to continue succeeding."
