After Argentina’s qualification for the next round of the 2026 World Cup at the expense of Switzerland, Thierry Henry delivered a blunt analysis of the Albiceleste’s performance and, especially, the current situation of Lionel Messi. The former French international believes the Argentine captain is no longer at the peak of his physical abilities, even though his influence on the team remains intact. In a widely shared statement, Henry also discussed Messi’s future, Lionel Scaloni’s role, Argentina’s chances against England, and the recurring criticisms regarding officiating.
For Thierry Henry, the weight of years is starting to show on Lionel Messi. The former Arsenal and Barcelona striker acknowledges that the Argentine genius no longer has the same mobility as before, but he emphasizes that Messi’s importance to the national team is immense. According to him, the respect his teammates have for him is a key element in Argentina’s success.
“You can see that Messi can’t move like he always does. I’m sad, he’s getting old. I don’t think he will play in the next Copa America. He will probably retire after the World Cup. The players fight for him, he has already earned their respect, he’s not fighting for their respect like the other guy (Cristiano Ronaldo).”
Henry also spoke about Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni. Without considering him an exceptional tactician, he believes Scaloni’s main asset lies in the confidence and respect he inspires in his group. For the 1998 World Cup champion, this cohesion could allow Argentina to go even further in the competition.
Continuing his analysis, Thierry Henry looked ahead to a potential clash between Argentina and England. He believes the Argentines have the qualities needed to push the Three Lions to their limits, even to a penalty shootout. He also criticized some aspects of the English game while praising several individual players.
“Lionel Scaloni isn’t a great tactician, but the players respect him. I see them going to penalties against England. England is very poor at controlling the tempo of the game. The only players I like there are Kane, Jude, and Reece. Anderson is good too, but I think Enzo will dominate him. It will be a tough match.”
🚨🎙️ Thierry Henry after Argentina beat Switzerland to qualify for the next round at the World Cup
🗣️ “You can see Messi can’t move the way he always moves. I’m sad, he’s getting old. I don’t think he will play in the next Copa America. He will probably retire after the World… pic.twitter.com/oXAI0jTH31
— 𝑭𝒍𝒐𝒚𝒅 ✨ (@Floydchels) July 12, 2026
Finally, Thierry Henry addressed the numerous controversies surrounding Argentina’s officiating during this World Cup. While some observers regularly accuse FIFA of favoring the Albiceleste, the former French striker believes that appointing a referee from Cristiano Ronaldo’s country proves otherwise. For him, Argentina’s victory over Switzerland shows that their success does not rely on officiating, but on the qualities of their team.
“I like what FIFA has done. They saw fans complaining that referees support Argentina in every match. Then FIFA intentionally brought in a referee from Cristiano’s country, and Messi still won. They are clearly favored by God, not by FIFA.”
