Lionel Messi might’ve fulfilled his lifelong dream of winning the FIFA World Cup in 2022, but the elite trophy also brought La Pulga’s retirement rumors. Amid the growing grapevine, La Albiceleste manager Lionel Scaloni has spoken about how the future generation will try to overcome challenges especially when the generational player hangs up his boots.

The fans have already experienced this sadness once in their lifetime. Hence, they will hope that the 36-year-old remains in the headlines for his goals and not for calling it quits from the national team.

Lionel Scaloni speaks on the potential retirement of Lionel Messi from the national team

Argentina have continued their golden patch of form after winning the 2022 World Cup. Lionel Messi expectedly continues to contribute goals and assists and lead the team by example. However, the dependence also raises the question: Are the team ready for a future without La Pulga.

The La Albiceleste coach Lionel Scaloni responding to this question said, “At the end, there came a time when Maradona left the Argentine national team, Ruggeri left, great players left and Argentina continued. It will hurt a lot because they are great players who have given so much, but we have the obligation, because the Argentine national team, beyond Leo or Maradona, has always been powerful, and we will have the challenge of continuing to be so without them”. 

The World Cup-winning coach further added that the team will have to start planning a future without La Pulga from now on. If the rumors are to go by, there is a huge chance that the team would have to plan a future without him. According to several reports, the 45-year-old manager could leave the role after Copa America later this year.

Therefore, it will be interesting whether the federation can convince Scaloni to stay. As far as a potential retirement is concerned for Lionel Messi, luckily for the fans, the 36-year-old has other ambitions for the nation.

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The eight-time Ballon d’Or will hope to lead his team as they hope to retain the Copa America trophy in the USA later this year. This is not the only trophy, La Pulga is aiming with the national team. According to reports, he has also made himself available for the 2024 Paris Olympics should the nation qualify for it.

When he was asked about his availability for the 2026 World Cup, he said it would be difficult, but he has not completely ruled out the possibility. Hence, it all depends on what Messi is planning for the future.

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The fans will hope that they can get to see Lionel Messi versus Cristiano Ronaldo in the 2026 World Cup for the last time. Do you see La Pulga playing for the national team till 2026? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.