Lionel Scaloni emotional as Lionel Messi leaves Argentina set-up

Lionel Scaloni reflected on Lionel Messi’s departure from the Argentina set-up after the world champions beat Benin 3-0, describing the end of their manager-captain partnership as an emotional moment for the national team.

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Scaloni and Messi shared a period that delivered four major honours for Argentina, with the coach saying it had been an extraordinary privilege to work alongside a player he considers the greatest in the game’s history.

“It was a dream fulfilled,” Scaloni said. “I never imagined I would coach the best footballer ever. We will always be thankful that he allowed us to share that time with him.”

The Argentina coach acknowledged that the scale of the occasion had affected him. He said his tears came from the many memories running through his mind and admitted that the prospect of no longer having Messi in the squad would be painful.

Scaloni believes Argentina cannot replace the individual quality Messi brought to decisive moments. He pointed to the forward’s ability to change a match through a single piece of brilliance and said he had never encountered another player with the same presence.

“There will not be another player like him on the field,” Scaloni said. “What he leaves behind is incredible.”

Argentina’s response, in Scaloni’s view, must come through the collective rather than an attempt to find one direct successor. The coach said younger players are already being brought into the group, but stressed that the team will need every member of the squad to contribute if it is to offset Messi’s absence.

“The way to make up for it is to have a very strong team, with everyone playing their part,” he said. “This is a side capable of achieving a great deal together.”

Scaloni will now focus on integrating the next generation as Argentina prepare for future international campaigns without the player who defined their most successful recent era.