Reigning world champions after their victory against France at the Qatar 2022 World Cup, Lionel Messi’s Argentina still have goals to achieve. If the Albiceleste lost to Uruguay in the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, Lionel Scaloni’s side must confirm in 2024 on the occasion of the Copa America to be held in the United States of America. And this competition would probably be the last for Lionel Messi, who has won everything in his career as a professional footballer.
The year 2024 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for the Argentine national team. The Albiceleste will play the Copa America in the United States and already know that it will be Ángel Di María’s last. But it could also mean the last dance for two pillars of this team: Lionel Scaloni, the coach, and Lionel Messi, the captain.
The coach questioned his continuity after the victory against Brazil in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. And in recent days, journalist Gastón Edul has confirmed that he will be in charge of the continental competition, but that the outcome of it will determine not only his future, but also Messi’s.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner himself does not know if he will continue with the Argentine national team until the next World Cup. But La Pulga recently anticipated that a good result at the Copa America could be the boost he needs to convince himself of reaching the 2026 World Cup.
Mario Kempes in favour of Messi and Scaloni leaving
In any case, an Argentine world champion has spoken out on the subject and has not objected to Messi and Scaloni withdrawing. It is, of course, Mario Alberto Kempes. The Albiceleste legend, world champion in 1978, is not opposed to the departures of Messi and Scaloni from the Argentine national team.
In an interview with Infobae, Mario Kempes was in favor of the international retirement of Lionel Messi and his coach Lionel Scaloni. “You have to respect everything. When Messi resigned, I said it was good. There came a time when I said, ‘For what? Why would you want to ruin your life by coming to Argentina? He’s doing everything he has to do, everything is going well for him, but not for the national team and that bothers him. And I said, ‘Don’t let him come anymore, let him stay happy in Barcelona’. One day he turned things around, found a new coach, a new national team, started having fun and won the Copa America and the World Cup », Mario Kempes said.
“It’s the same with Scaloni. An inexperienced substitute coach started to do things right, he was a champion and now he said, ‘Gentlemen, respect me’. If they want to leave, let them go, and if they want to stay, let them stay. There must be problems that we don’t know about. “ he added.
Messi has nothing left to prove
He (Mario Kempes) is probably not wrong, as Lionel Messi has won everything during his football career. The Argentine number 10 was one of the most successful players, if not the most successful player in the world. But with his country, he finally succeeded where he had failed since.
Messi won the Copa America for Argentina and the following year he took his country to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup. He finished best player of the competition and became world champion in front of Kylian Mbappé’s France. This resounding success obviously allowed him to win his 8th Ballon d’Or, a record in the history of the distinction of France Football.
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