Every football era has a player who defines it. For millions of fans around the world, that player has been Lionel Messi—and Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni believes the moment to appreciate him is now.
As Argentina prepares to face Spain in Sunday’s FIFA World Cup final, Scaloni described the 39-year-old captain as “pure history” and “a legend,” saying football supporters should cherish what could be Messi’s final appearance on the world’s biggest stage.
Speaking at the FIFA Fanatics event in New York City on Friday, Scaloni joined Messi and goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez for a fan interaction ahead of the championship match.
Reflecting on Messi’s career, the Argentina coach said reaching another World Cup final at the age of 39 is an extraordinary achievement.
“He is pure history. A legend. Reaching a final at 39 years of age is unbelievable. We must enjoy him as it happens,” Scaloni said.
“With Diego Maradona, we miss him. But Messi is still with us. He is the history, he is the legend, and together with this group of people who have brought us these wonderful years, we’ll always remember him.”
Argentina will take on Spain on Sunday as they attempt to defend the FIFA World Cup title they won in Qatar four years ago.
Despite relying on an experienced squad led by Messi, Argentina have impressed throughout the tournament, booking their place in the final after defeating England in the semi-finals.
Scaloni, however, admitted that Spain would be their toughest test yet.
“If Spain leaves the hotel, I am already concerned. Once they are on the bus and they leave the hotel, I am concerned. They are a great team. Everything concerns me about Spain,” he said.
The Argentine coach also dismissed suggestions that his team’s experience of playing in the 2022 World Cup final would automatically give them an edge.
“They also have players who have played on globally big stages. They played a Euro final and a Nations League final. They also have a great deal of experience. I don’t think being in a final again plays in our favour,” he added.
Scaloni credited his players’ mentality to the values they developed while growing up.
“The best thing we have is that we’ve grown up in rough places playing ball,” he said. “The pressure stays to the side; it’s not worth worrying about. On Sunday, we need to do what we’ve done since the beginning, just play ball and don’t even think about what could happen.”
Messi shared a similar perspective, saying football had always been driven by passion rather than pressure.
“We grew up playing football with a lot of passion and with a lot of desire, all the time, wherever—in school, in the street, with little teams in our neighbourhoods,” Messi said.
“We never thought of pressure. It always felt natural, the act of playing, of competing. Since we were little, I learned that you lose more than you win. That made me grow a lot as a person and player.”
Whether Argentina successfully defends its title or not, the final could mark another defining chapter in Messi’s remarkable career—one that has inspired countless young footballers to dream, compete and believe that greatness is built over time.
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