Scaloni Hails Messi as ‘Pure History’ Ahead of Argentina’s World Cup Final Clash with Spain
Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has described captain Lionel Messi as “pure history” and a football legend, urging fans to cherish the iconic forward as he prepares for what could be his final FIFA World Cup appearance.
Scaloni made the remarks during the FIFA Fanatics event in New York City on Friday, where he appeared alongside Messi and goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez ahead of Sunday’s World Cup final against Spain.
The Argentina coach praised the 39-year-old eight-time Ballon d’Or winner for leading his country to yet another World Cup final despite his age, describing his achievement as extraordinary.
“He is pure history. A legend. Reaching a World Cup final at 39 years of age is unbelievable. We must enjoy him while we still can,” Scaloni said.
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, we will always remember these wonderful years.”
GaskiyaCast reports that Argentina will take on European champions Spain on Sunday as they seek to retain the FIFA World Cup title they won in Qatar four years ago.
Despite relying on an experienced squad led by Messi, Argentina have exceeded expectations throughout the tournament, booking their place in the final after an impressive semi-final victory over England.
Looking ahead to the decisive encounter, Scaloni admitted Spain would be Argentina’s toughest opponents of the competition, praising their quality and experience.
“If Spain leaves the hotel, I am already concerned. Once they get on the bus, I am concerned. They are a great team. Everything about Spain concerns me,” he said.
Scaloni also dismissed claims that Argentina’s experience from the 2022 World Cup final would give them an edge.
“They also have players who have played in major finals. They won the European Championship and have featured in the Nations League final. They are experienced too, so I don’t think that gives us any advantage,” he stated.
The Argentine coach credited his players’ resilience to the environment in which they grew up, saying they learned to focus on football rather than outside pressure.
“We grew up playing football in tough neighbourhoods. We learned to just play and ignore the pressure. On Sunday, we have to do what we’ve done since the start of the tournament—play our football without thinking about what might happen,” Scaloni said.
Messi also reflected on his upbringing, saying his childhood experiences helped shape his mentality as both a player and a person.
“We grew up playing football with passion everywhere—in the streets, at school and in our neighbourhoods. We never thought about pressure. I learned from an early age that you lose more often than you win, and that helped me grow both as a person and as a footballer,” Messi said.
