Internationally, for four years, Argentina remained quintessentially an immovable object. Under the stewardship of coach Lionel Scaloni, La Albiceleste has achieved such formidable feats as four major trophies: the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the 2022 Finalissima, and the two consecutive Copa America titles in 2021 and 2024.
According to Ecuadorian football legend Alex Aguinaga, the current cohesion of the Argentine team shows that Messi is now no longer their key asset to success. Aguinaga acknowledged that Messi has talent, having been the one who added genius touch to the tournament.
The squad is really flourishing with plenty of older heads and the younger ones just emerging. While Messi had a stake in the Copa America, scoring one goal and assisting once in five matches, it was the teamwork making Argentina champions all the way.
Aguinaga's Point of View Regarding Argentina and Messi
In an interview with DSports Radio, Aguinaga had some comments concerning Messi in the current Argentine setup.
"Messi is still Messi. After what he showed in the Copa America, he stands out for the quality he has," Aguinaga said.
He continued on to say how he admired the Argentine team: "I like Argentina's team as a whole. They are very solid, very strong. Sometimes, you don't feel whether Lionel is there or not."
At 37, Messi proves his value consistently for Argentina, with a remarkable tally of 112 goals and 61 assists in 191 official matches.
Scaloni on Messi's Future with Argentina
Lionel Scaloni, coach of Argentina, welcomed the possibility of Messi being part of the squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Nevertheless, he added, it is still very early for anything definite to be spoken.
Speaking on DSPORTS, Scaloni continued: "The first thing to say is that both he [Messi] and his teammates are aware that there is some reasonable amount of time left and that he and everyone else are keen to play in the World Cup."
Then he added: "We will have to wait and see how things develop. He (Messi) knows what we are thinking, and he is the most intelligent of us all."
Contributions of Messi and Future of Argentina
Lionel Messi's amazing journey with the national setup of Argentina has found its most cherished moments. After so many failures, he made Argentina victorious at the World Cup in 2022, ushering him into the ranks of immortals.
He was in pristine form during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, scoring seven goals and giving three assists in seven matches to win the Golden Ball. These fans can be very excited during 2026, even when he is not even 39, to wonder if he can lift that second trophy before a possible fix, given that Argentina is conducting itself very well in the international football arena.
Lionel Messi, the most important player for Argentina, has also seen the success of late, indicating that the team can earn victories with teamwork. Messi or not, Argentina will be present in international football with an ensemble of experienced heads, classy players, and tactical brilliance. With the 2026 World Cup peeping on the horizon, Messi and the team will be seen writing yet another chapter in their glorious history.