2026 World Cup will be Messi’s last Tournament — Argentina coach Scaloni reveals

Argentina head coach, Lionel Scaloni has revealed that the 2026 World Cup could be the final appearance for Lionel Messi on football’s biggest stage.

Scaloni made this known during a press conference ahead of Argentina’s international friendly against Zambia.

Messi, 38, has not officially confirmed whether he will feature at the tournament, although he played a key role in Argentina’s qualification campaign.

The coach emphasized that his focus is ensuring Messi is present and able to enjoy what could be his last World Cup experience.

“The important thing is that he comes and enjoys being at a World Cup – which, theoretically, will be his last,” Scaloni said.

“We want him to enjoy it, because later on, you really miss playing in events like these.”

He added that most of the regular players are expected to be involved, describing the upcoming matches as a final test before potential adjustments to the squad.

“Later, we’ll make some changes to take a look at some of the younger players, but the idea is to field our most familiar lineup,” he said.