Argentina’s Scaloni in no rush to plan for Messi retirement

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said it is too soon to start planning for life without Lionel Messi.

Messi, who has said he will retire before the 2026 World Cup, was included in the squad despite carrying a muscle problem which has kept him out of action for club side Inter Miami.

The 36-year-old forward came on in the 53rd minute of Argentina’s 1-0 win over Paraguay on October 12 and went close to scoring, rattling the woodwork with a free-kick in added time.

“Leo is fine,” Scaloni told reporters ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Peru game in Lima. “He has been adding minutes of training… It’s a matter of minutes, of how much he can play. If he’s well, you know what I think, he will play.”

“We always try to play those that are at 100 percent or close to 100 percent. Today it is very difficult for everyone to be at their best in these games so there may be a variation with respect to the game against Paraguay,” Scaloni said. 

“I think the team plays in a determined way, whoever is on the pitch, that’s the most important thing. We saw the other day we can play well too (without Messi).”

Asked if Argentina should get used to playing without their talisman, Scaloni shot back: “Let’s keep in mind that he is still here. What a way to think about ‘when he is gone’.

“The truth is that he is still active, let’s leave him alone, are we already retiring him?”