Scaloni hails Messi’s incomparable aura as Argentina faces life without him

Lionel Scaloni believes Argentina will face a difficult transition after Lionel Messi’s last international match, played on Wednesday against Benin. The coach spoke about the national team’s future without its iconic player and stressed the exceptional mark Messi has left: he says he has never encountered a comparable aura and considers Messi incomparable.

Scaloni did not play down the difficulty ahead. “It will be difficult, and that is what he has just said; what we have experienced over all these years is not usual, and we could have difficult moments in the future,” he said. He does, however, see a way forward: relying on young players. Their contribution could help the team cope, although, in his view, having Messi alongside the group created a unique feeling that is difficult to explain to anyone who has not experienced it.

The coach believes a top team can be built with promising young talent, whatever shape that rebuilding takes. But Messi’s aura remains unmatched in his eyes. “The mark he leaves will no longer be there; we will look for new tools, we will miss that feeling, the pleasure of having him alongside us was incredible, and now we have to move forward without him,” he concluded.