The future of Lionel Messi’s international career has been a hot topic of discussion ever since his high-profile move to MLS club Inter Miami this summer. However, Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has come out and stated unequivocally that Messi will continue to lead the national team at next year’s Copa America.
In an interview, Scaloni dismissed any notion that Lionel Messi’s play in MLS would affect his status with the national team. “I don’t think Messi playing in the US makes him any less competitive. He still has that drive to win inside him,” Scaloni said. “As long as Messi wants to keep playing for Argentina, I won’t say no to him.”
Scaloni has made it clear before that Messi remains firmly in his plans, saying earlier this year that he sees Messi “happy on the pitch and within the national team.” The manager added, “Leo looks good to me and will keep coming as long as he doesn’t say otherwise.”
As reigning Copa America champions, Argentina will head into next year’s tournament looking to defend their title. The 2024 edition promises to be a blockbuster, with CONMEBOL teams joined by six invited sides from CONCACAF and the Caribbean. The Copa will be held in the United States from June to July.
There has been speculation about the 2026 World Cup being Messi’s potential international swansong. After leading Argentina to glory in Qatar, Messi hinted he may not compete at another World Cup.
However, he later opened the door to participating in 2026, saying he would continue playing internationally as long as he felt fit.
In recent comments, Lionel Messi seemed to backtrack and suggest Qatar 2022 was his last World Cup. But his latest statements confirm he is committed to the national team for at least the next couple of years.
At 36, Messi is still going strong for both club and country. He will undoubtedly remain the talisman for an Argentina side looking to win more silverware and cement their place among international soccer’s elite.
For Scaloni and Argentine fans, Messi’s continued presence can only be a positive as they aim for more global dominance.
Why Lionel Messi Is Considered as the Greatest Of All Time ( GOAT)
Lionel Messi’s career achievements and records are simply staggering. At just 36 years old, he has already cemented his legacy as one of soccer’s all-time greats.
Messi is Argentina’s all-time leading scorer with 103 goals. He surpassed Gabriel Batistuta’s previous record of 54 goals back in 2016.
At club level with Barcelona, Lionel Messi scored a mind-boggling 672 goals across all competitions during his 17 seasons with the Spanish giants. He is Barcelona’s record goalscorer by a huge margin.
Messi is also La Liga’s top scorer of all time, with 474 goals during his career in Spain. He has won a record seven Pichichi trophies as the league’s highest goalscorer in a season.
On the global stage, Messi holds the record for most goals scored for a single club, most assists provided in La Liga history, and most hat-tricks scored in Spain’s top flight.
His individual honors are too many to name, but highlights include a record seven Ballon d’Or awards, a record six European Golden Shoes, and being named FIFA’s Best Player a record seven times.
At the international level, Lionel Messi finally achieved glory in 2022, leading Argentina to a World Cup victory as captain. This completed his set of major international honors after previously winning Olympic gold in 2008 and the 2021 Copa America.
As Messi extends his career into his late 30s, he will continue building on a resume that already makes him a soccer legend. His unmatched natural talent and drive to keep performing at the highest level means more records and achievements surely await.
