Argentina head coach, Lionel Scaloni, has called Lionel Messi “pure history” and “a legend.” He urged fans to appreciate the 39-year-old superstar as he gets ready for what might be his last FIFA World Cup appearance.
Scaloni spoke on Friday at the FIFA Fanatics event in New York City. This was the first fan meet for both World Cup finalists before the big match. He was there with Messi and goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez.
When asked about Messi’s legacy before Sunday’s final, Scaloni praised the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner. He said, “He is pure history. A legend. Reaching a final at 39 years of age is unbelievable. We must enjoy him as it happens.”
He added, “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.”
PUNCH Online reports that Argentina will play against Spain in Sunday’s World Cup final. They are trying to defend the title they won in Qatar four years ago.
Even though the team is mostly made up of older players with Messi leading, Argentina has surprised many with their thrilling performances. This includes a memorable semi-final win over England.
According to The Guardian, Scaloni pointed out that Spain would be Argentina’s biggest challenge. He praised the European champions for their disciplined style of play.
“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,” Scaloni said.
Scaloni dismissed the idea that his team's experience from the 2022 World Cup final would give them an edge. He said, “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 mentioned that Argentina’s players have succeeded by sticking to the lessons they learned while growing up.
“The best thing we have is that we’ve grown up in rough places playing ball,” he said. “Playing soccer and not thinking about what other people say.”
Scaloni added, “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 also shared his thoughts, agreeing with his coach. He said his childhood experiences shaped his mindset.
“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.
“We never thought of pressure. It always felt natural, the act of playing, of competing. This is a team sport; the rival always plays as well, and you can’t always win. But since we were little, I learned that you lose more than you win. That made me grow a lot as a person and player,” Messi said.
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