Topic: FIFA World Cup 2026 :Canada/Mexico/United States: Discussion Thread - page 144. (Read 68722 times)

Now I am a little indecisive about this. On one side, I do not want to believe that Argentina is actually going to stop working with Scaloni. And it is much harder to believe when I remember that he was the one winning Argentina, the World Cup.

But at the same time, I also know that sometimes things are not as good as it looks from the outside. Maybe Lionel Messi and him actually have problems with each other. And we all know that Lionel Messi has a big impact on any decisions taken by Argentina.. But at the same time, it is definitely very hard to believe.

That's exactly the situation they are in and the manager should have been aware of that. If Messi wants to get rid of the football federation president he would, hell I am pretty sure that if Messi ran for president at Argentina, there is a quite possible chance that he could win, obviously which party does matter, but he does have that kind of power, let alone changing the manager.

So, it was already established that he would lead the team and the manager and coaches would have to let go and not really deal with him at all, it wouldn't make sense to keep doing something like that. I think it is wise decision by whoever in charge to fire anyone who upsets Messi or even who could be upset with Messi as well, that dude is the god there and he should be untouchable. I am not saying this is a good or right thing, but that is the reality and we should be considering the situation a bit better, it could be a deal where it could definitely be just needed to get accepted.

I can't believe Argentina is about to stop working with Scaloni because of Messi, Messi is already old and he can't play on his team for a long time but Scaloni can't have good performance in this team and he has good results for far even in the important match they had against Brazil. But the chairman of this team, Claudio Tapia didn't even say anything about Scaloni recently when he was talking on media and it's not surprising to see Scaloni leave the team because of one player before the 2026 World Cup.
  

If we look at Argentina's previous games, Argentina team was not that good. Since 2021, Lionel Scaloni under the great leadership of Leo Messi and Di Maria, the Argentina team has become a different kind of strong team. After winning the Super Clasico against the arch-rivals Brazil, Lionel Scaloni gave bad news to the Argentine fans. He said that he will no longer be in charge of the Argentina team. will do  Lionel Scaloni was asked about his resignation, he didn't mention Leo Messi or anyone. Maybe we will see Lionel Scaloni in 2026 World Cup and Copa America.

Well.. I also don't believe in these stupid rumors. At least on the outside it looks as if Lionel Scaloni and Lionel Messi enjoy excellent bonding. If Scaloni leaves for one of the UEFA clubs, then I am sure that it will be due to financial reasons. And the Argentine Football Association (Asociación del Fútbol Argentino), needs to think about it. This guy won them the world cup in 2022. There is no excuse in not rising his paycheck to match those offers from Real Madrid or any of the other clubs. He deserves it, IMO.

I believe that we are going to end up with something that will benefit everyone, it's really a good thing to see these big names because that will increase the viewership and that would be something that could help the money made from it as well type of thing. I believe that we need to end up seeing something that needs to be something that will benefit everyone at the same time, and the amount of attention the world cup sees helps even other players.

Imagine being a 19 year old kid, debuting for your nation at world cup for the first time (debut national team before, but first world cup game) and then you play against Argentina, you win or you may lose but you play great, suddenly your worth is huge if Messi is there because everyone would be watching it even more and while all the scouts will be there, it would also benefit if social media hypes you as well, believe it or not social media does matter on transfers for clubs because more attention is very important.

I read in other media about these rumors and actually, it is not very clear what the problem is which makes the media reports about it, but I think if Lionel Scaloni leaves the Argentine national team he will do so after completing his contract and to be able to earn more money by coaching the club because currently his name is has started to be considered well after successfully bringing Argentina to win the Copa America and the World Cup, and it is reported that Real Madrid is interested in him, so I see that his decision to leave was pure because his contract and he wanted different things, and it is quite impossible that he will last long as Argentina's coach because we can see that there is no national team coach who can always lead the country to a title.

I am pretty sure that even if it is Lionel Messi, who has done something wrong, Argentina will totally support Lionel Messi instead of the coach. And I am not sure what happened between Lionel Messi and Scaloni. But I am definitely certain that it is not going to be very good for Argentina. I mean if Argentina will actually play in 2026 without Scaloni. I don't think there was any reason to let him go as he was able to do the unthinkable. Honestly, I don't think Argentina would have been able to win the World Cup without him.

A lot of people seem to not give Di Maria the importance that he deserves. He is a very important player for Argentina. And he is a very devastating player, especially in the finals. It seems like Argentina is playing a final, he is scoring. And yes, even in 2026, he and Lionel Messi are going to be very important for Argentina. Of course, Lionel Messi is someone who can perform at any given time even at this age. He scans the field and finds weaknesses in the opponents defense. And at any given time he is able to penetrate that defence.

People should not think that just because he is old he will not be able to perform.

Duke

Lionel Scaloni, of course, has played an important role in the current champion Argentina team becoming champions. Although there is some kind of misunderstanding between Leo Messi and Lionel Scaloni. Leo Messi and Lionel Scaloni must be reformed for the sake of the team. Because Argentina course without Lionel Scaloni if they want to play the 2026 World Cup, it will not be very good for their team. The important role Lionel Messi will play for their team. Of course, the role of Argentine course Lionel Scaloni is also very important. Argentina have been playing very well in the qualifiers, so they should be careful not to leave Lionel Scaloni out of the squad.

I agree with both of you that Di Maria and Lionel Messi are still one of the best players of Argentina's squad but you know what's the most interesting thing? Many say Di Maria and Lionel Messi are old and they say themselves that they are old but that's not the end. Recently I read an interview with Messi on Goal.com. Messi said that due to his age, it's normal for him to not participate in World Cup 2026 but he said that he wants to be here more than ever because he feels great with the current team of Argentina and wants to enjoy playing with them. So, to sum up, it's Messi's plan to retire for 2026's world cup but at the same time he isn't confident that he will retire because he feels very happy with the team.
By the way, it's confirmed that Di Maria and Messi will play for Copa America 2024. Di Maria plans to retire after that but he may change his mind, who knows? I believe we will see Messi in World Cup 2026 but I am not so sure about Di Maria.
Messi is such a phenomenal player. Yes, he is getting older but at the same time his vision is on another level, he almost always scores free kick. It's not necessary for him to be a Striker or Central Forward, he can tremendously help his team with his vision (assists) and with free kicks that he can score so damn well.

In Argentine, they believe in Messi and I think even if Messi breaks some rules or has a bad relationship with the coach, still people will keep supporting him and there is a high chance for Lionel Scaloni to leave the team because he knows the fans will still support Messi even if his behavior was not good. Because usually, the coach is responsible for that not a player and Messi is just a player.
That's why maybe we will see Argentina playing in the 2026 World Cup without Scaloni.

The strained relationship between Lionel Messi and Lionel Scaloni is just one of the few reasons why the World Cup-winning coach wants to leave the Argentine national team. There are reports that Scolani was not pleased with the way Messi led other players to the dressing room without consulting the coach or other technical staff during the violence-filled match against Brazil. The coach felt he should have been consulted before Messi took such a decision. So this might confirm that there might be a sort of power tussle between the coach and the world's best player.

Scolani's decision might also be connected to the maltreatment he has been receiving from Argentina Football Association (AFA). His World Cup bonuses have been delayed even after winning and the association was also wasted time before they extended his contract. There are also reports that the AFA president Claudio Tapia is not pleased with Scolani because he refused to use the national team's platform to support a presidential candidate that the FA chief wanted to win the elections.

It is also possible that the Argentine coach has started receiving offers from top European clubs. The pay and the work conditions of these clubs will be better than coaching the  Albiceleste. There are reports that he might be heading to Spain where he has some experience where he worked as an assistant and youth team coach in Racing Santander and Mallorca. But for me, I think he should leave when the ovation is loudest.

@nullama I personally feel that Messi should quit and allow the country to rebuild and the difference is Ronaldo kept testing himself to the highest level by coming in the premier league and then moving to Saudi League while Messi chose the easy route of playing in PSG and then in USA. Also Ronaldo has maintained his fitness better then Messi hence if I had to pick one of them at the World Cup then I would definitely pick Ronaldo.

Well, yeah, that's true.

But Messi is already in retiring age, and he just won the world cup.

It would be a perfect time to retire, at the peak of his glory.

If he goes and plays the world cup and doesn't win, that would be a bit of a downer for his retirement.

And if he does win, then it would not be as huge because he just did it.

But this is again hard to verify for anyone because I remember that this kind of rumor that Messi decides who is going to be the coach and who has to leave is not new. Every time when a coach has to leave the club Messi is playing for or the national team, there are rumors that Messi has something to do with it. But why would that be the case when Scaloni publicly said that he wants Messi to keep playing for Argentina and if possible also for the World Cup 2026? Has there ever been an argument between the two that has become publicly known? I don't know of any problems between them.

News about Messi, Argentina, and Lionel Scaloni is not good and it seems Lionel Scaloni wants to leave the team, I remember in the Qatar World Cup when Argentina won the title, Scaloni said he wanted to even use Messo in the next World Cup in 2026. But it seems the relationship between Messi and Lionel Scaloni is not good and Lionel Scaloni is leaving the team because of that.



https://theathletic.com/5114467/2023/12/05/lionel-scaloni-argentina-coach/

I mean it would be quite possible for Messi to be in 2026 world cup, that is about 2 years away, which means that he would be only 38 years old, I think Ronaldo was something close to that on the last world cup and he did alright, why wouldn't Messi be alright at 38 years old. I get that we are not used to it, I understand that we have seen many players retire before 38 years old, and it's still common, but at the very least we need to realize that we are seeing more and more players not retiring at early ages anymore.

I remember when I was a kid, a player that was 32 years old would be someone near the retirement age, but nowadays we are seeing in every sport where people play until 40 and even some more maybe after that. I think Messi will be just fine at 2026 world cup, and in fact I can take it one further and say that in 2030 if he is still playing hen he could be at the squad. Yes, 42 year old Messi may not be that great, but he wouldn't be like not top 25 neither, he could be still at the squad even if just for leadership.

Argentina have good regeneration and I sure not have to worry if Lionel Messi retired from national teams, for attacking line I think Lutaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez will be more perfect replacement for Lionel Messi looking their performance with Inter Milan and Manchester City, many regeneration have been success before and Argentina always get best result on every competition but under Lionel Messi they have won Copa America and FIFA World Cup 2022. Lionel Messi is not only as top striker for Argentina but also he was right figure how to motivate their team mates in the field and success achievement many trophies will be difficult for Argentina fans if one day later Lionel Messi have retired from national teams.

Actually FIFA World Cup 2026 is most excited edition for him and all fans want to see his last appearance with national team before he will retired from football professional career or leave his national team.

Argentina will be aiming to defend the Copa América trophy after winning the 2021 edition. We also know that Lionel Messi will lead the Argentine national team because he is still actively engaged in national football. Argentine national team coach Lionel Scaloni made it clear after the World Cup that the door of the national team will always be opened to Messi and that he will always be welcomed to the team. Messi has not also misused this opportunity because he has been hardworking and continued to contribute positively to the Argentine national team. We saw his outstanding performance and influence in some of the recently played World Cup qualifiers, I do not doubt that he will keep improving. However, I think the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States might be his last game for the national team.

But the greatest of them all is Lionel Messi. He was instrumental in most of the recent successes that the Argentine national team has enjoyed. Argentina and Brazil produce some of the best players in the world. But sadly only a few of them have been fortunate enough to win the Ballon d'Or.