Lionel Scaloni confirms Argentina stay as Messi’s leadership legacy comes into focus

Lionel Scaloni says he has decided to remain as Argentina manager, while acknowledging the difficulty of replacing Lionel Messi as the team’s captain and leader.

Scaloni’s current contract is due to expire in December, but he has held talks with Argentine Football Association president Claudio Tapia about extending his tenure.

“I spoke with president Tapia for some time to see whether we could move forward and reach an agreement,” Scaloni said at a news conference before Argentina’s friendly against Bolivia.

“We have these matches ahead of us now, but it will come down to reaching an agreement. The desire is there, and that is the important thing.

“I have made the decision to continue. I want to carry on working and reach an agreement. When we have something, we will announce it.”

The match against Bolivia is scheduled to take place early on Thursday at the Mario Alberto Kempes stadium in Cordoba, in Argentina’s first friendly since the 2026 World Cup.

Argentina will keep number 10 for Messi

Scaloni also confirmed that Argentina will not immediately give Messi’s number 10 shirt to another player.

“Until Leo’s match, we will not give number 10 to anyone,” he said. “After that, we will see.”

The intention, he added, was for the shirt eventually to be worn by one of the players, recognising “all the value and beauty that it carries”.

Messi is expected to arrive in Argentina on Sunday, although he could come earlier for the match against Burkina Faso on 3 October if he wishes.

“He will initially come at the end of the week, after the match on 3 October against Burkina Faso,” Scaloni said. “If he wants to come for that game, he can; there is no problem. But he will arrive on Sunday.”

Messi is expected to play his farewell match for Argentina against Benin at the Monumental, where a full crowd is anticipated.

Romero among three new Argentina captains

With Messi’s departure approaching, Scaloni said Cristian Romero, Emiliano Martinez and Lautaro Martinez would share the captaincy during the forthcoming friendlies.

“The captain was already Cuti [Romero] after Leo and Ota [Otamendi], then the second will be Emiliano [Dibu], and the other will be Lautaro Martinez, at least for these matches,” he said.

Scaloni praised Romero for accepting the responsibility, saying the defender had already shown he was capable of leading the side.

“Cuti, besides being a great player, has to take on this responsibility, and he has done so,” Scaloni said. “We know he can do it, and he has to show what wearing the captain’s armband means.”

He added: “Everyone will want to follow his example. He has to improve in many areas, but we see that he can be a leader and believe he will always be there to defend the Argentina shirt.”

Scaloni said Messi’s absence would create a leadership gap both on and off the pitch.

“Besides being a player, he creates something on and off the pitch that I have not seen from anyone else,” he said. “So imagine if it will not be difficult to lose him.”

“We all have to replace what Leo used to do. That will be difficult, but the group has always responded.”

Argentina’s upcoming friendlies are against Bolivia on Wednesday 30 September at the Kempes, Burkina Faso on Saturday 3 October at the Monumental, and Benin on Tuesday 6 October at the Monumental.