Lionel Scaloni hinted that he would not continue with the Argentine National Team after December

After the 1-0 defeat against Spain in the final of the 2026 World Cup, Lionel Scaloni had an emotional moment during the press conference. When asked about the continuity of Lionel Messi and his own in the Argentine National Team, the coach broke down, hinted that he would evaluate his future once his contract ends, and concluded the press conference in tears.

"The truth is I didn't talk to Leo", he began about the future of the number 10. "As for me, I will talk to the president (Claudio Tapia), I have a rough idea of what I want to do, I will fulfill the contract (expires in December of this year) and then I will see the truth that I feel the need to think because I no longer know if I will be able to do something as great as this and maybe it should have been", he stated.

"I am grateful to the president for giving me this opportunity to be in this place, to be in the place I am, it is the dream place for everyone, we have tried until the last moment to give our best as a coaching staff, the players, and I think it is fair that I can take this time and think about it", he added.

"This place is wonderful. It is a dream place that I never thought I would be in, I mean, if I stop because I am not capable, I never thought that all the coaching staff would be in this place, so to continue, a lot of things are needed, especially to reset, to form a group like this again that is difficult to form again and it hurts me, it hurts my soul, I feel it", he expressed before being overcome with emotion and ending the conference in tears.

The pride in the team's journey

Before these raw statements, Scaloni made some comments about the match, highlighting the effort of his players despite the lost final and acknowledging the superiority of the Spanish team.

"They were just winners, that is the reality. We have to recognize them and it’s almost over, the truth. I just want to thank my players, all the people who have given a huge hand to reach another World Cup final. And that's it, the match is over and we have to move on", he commented.

"As we always say, when you win everything is fine and when you lose not everything is bad. So gratitude, gratitude is the only word that comes to me and to the public as well. They will be suffering with us, but these are also moments to strengthen a whole country, all the people who can lose and we have to reset and start over", he added.

He then explained that the team arrived very physically conditioned to the decisive match due to injuries suffered during the game, although he avoided making excuses for the result. "It is evident that today many negative things happened with the injuries in key positions that we did not expect and we had to change three out of four defenders. That is not an excuse, but it is true, the wear has been enormous", he assured.

"These kids arrived in the best possible way, they gave their last effort, but against a team like this, if you don't arrive in the best conditions, you can suffer. But if there is a team that could have kept the match open until the end, it was us", he maintained.

He also acknowledged that he felt Argentina could find the goal before conceding the one from Ferran Torres in extra time. "And the truth is, I am honest, at the moment they scored the goal, I believe it was at the moment we were knowing we were going to make it to the end and that we were going to have some. But well, this is football, the beauty of this sport. Today we face the sad part of not being able to win. But we have to keep going, we have to get up", he stated.

The example of Tagliafico

The coach also highlighted the attitude of Nicolás Tagliafico, who refused to come off despite being physically exhausted, and assured that this commitment represents the team's DNA.

"What Nico Tagliafico did is what one wants for a player of the Argentine National Team. I think he had an outstanding match. He didn't want to come off because if he came off, it would complicate our situation even more. We couldn't put in someone who could defend. And he told me no, that he was fine, even though we already knew how he was. But well, that is the DNA that this team carries and I am very proud of him and all his teammates. I have no reproaches for anyone", he emphasized.

The new praise for Messi

In addition to highlighting his players, Scaloni once again showered praise specifically on Lionel Messi and assured that the World Cup he played does not change the regard he already had for him. "39 years old, guys. It's incredible. I already knew on my part. I was clear that he would play until he wanted to and his players, his teammates, and all his people would support him", he affirmed.

He also stated that he hopes both the captain and the rest of the squad receive recognition from the fans. "I hope he is proud of his teammates and I believe he is. I hope the people are proud of their team, that they are proud of him, of what he has done, and he is the best footballer to have stepped on a football field, in my opinion. Nothing will change. Even though what he did in this World Cup was incredible, it wouldn't have changed anything before", he added.

"They have been warriors"

Finally, Scaloni celebrated that the fans recognized the team's effort despite the defeat and confessed that he had already released all his emotion in the locker room. "It is difficult to make people understand to enjoy a runner-up finish. It is very difficult and to know that it is also a triumph. I hope and wish that people are aware of what has been achieved, of the way it has been achieved above all", he expressed.

He then revealed that he had cried with his players before going out to speak to the press and again highlighted the competitive spirit of the group. "I have already cried all I need to cry in the locker room, that's why you don't see me crying, but the truth is I have to thank this group because they have been warriors. We have competed against a team that is a great team and each of the Spanish footballers who came to greet us said they were surprised by the way we competed", he shared.

Finally, before the statements that initiated this note, he wished that the commitment shown by this squad would become a legacy for future generations of the National Team. "That is good and hopefully future generations will echo this, because we have that DNA and we will continue to have it", he concluded.

The expulsion of Enzo and recognition of the opponent

When asked about the red card for Enzo Fernández, Scaloni considered that the referee could have handled the situation differently, although he avoided delving into the controversy. "I think the first one could be avoided by the referee, but well, it is what it is. He never thought that the second one had to be given at that moment. I mean, logically it is a World Cup final and I believe there are things that could have been avoided, but well, that's it, there are no reproaches", he pointed out.

The coach also insisted that the main merit was Spain's and emphasized that the development of the match was conditioned both by injuries and by the numerical inferiority. "We have to give value to the opponent. And even so, I believe they are superior. It was a moment in the match that until minute 80-85 they had situations, but I would have liked to see what would have happened if we had remained with eleven", he analyzed.

In that sense, he recalled the difficulties the team faced throughout the tournament and assured that too many setbacks accumulated in the final. "The truth is we have been overcoming obstacles throughout the World Cup in an incredible way. And today too many things came together", he added.