Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has said he will keep Lionel Messi’s jersey ready if the talismanic captain wants to play at the next FIFA World Cup as he ends the country’s 36-year wait to lift the golden trophy again.
In a night of high drama, Messi scored twice and again in the shoot-out to lead Argentina to an emotional 4-2 win on penalties against France, the match ending in a 3-3 draw after 120 minutes of brilliant action. happened .
After finally achieving a lifelong dream by winning the ultimate prize in world football, many believed that the 35-year-old Messi might never wear Argentina’s famous blue and white stripes again. But within moments, Messi announced that he does not intend to retire from international duty in the near future.
It was a decision his coach welcomed.
“I think we should have the number 10 jersey ready for the next World Cup if he (Messi) likes to play,” Scaloni told a news conference.
“He’s earned the right to do what he wants with his career. What he passes on to his teammates is incredible. I’ve never seen someone as influential in a changing room.
Scaloni said that after last year’s Copa America victory, when they beat Brazil in the final, they started to feel invincible.
“After beating Brazil, I had a conversation with Messi… (and explained) that we had a big job ahead of us, people in our country were starting to believe (in our World Cup chances), to hope for, and the pressure was mounting,” Scaloni said.
“He told me ‘we have to keep going, nothing else matters’ and that gave me a huge emotional boost.
“I felt like we were on our way to something (big).”
With the World Cup victory just two years after the death of Diego Maradona, who famously led Argentina to their last title in 1986, an emotional Scaloni said: “I only realize now that Maradona is with us now. There aren’t and it makes me think that he would be happy and proud of us where he is from.
“If he was here, he would be the first fan to step onto the pitch to celebrate with us. I hope he enjoyed what we did.”
He also broke down in tears when it dawned on him what the win meant to the millions of people who followed the team’s journey from home, including their family and friends.
It was not in my plan to become a world champion. It’s crazy,” Scaloni said.
“There is no greater pride than representing your country and I hope we have made our fans proud.”