Scaloni Wants Messi to Keep Playing "Until He Can't Anymore"
Argentina's coach, Lionel Scaloni, was thrilled with his team’s performance in their 6-0 win over Bolivia, especially praising Lionel Messi, who scored three goals. Scaloni even asked Messi to keep playing "until he physically can't anymore."
"I just want him to play as long as he can, because it's a pleasure to watch him and have him on the pitch," the coach said about ‘La Pulga,’ who not only scored a hat-trick but also set up two assists. "He never stops surprising us," Scaloni added about the Inter Miami star, who returned to play for Argentina after almost a year.
When asked about Nicolás Paz, the former Real Madrid player born in Spain to Argentine parents, Scaloni highlighted his "very good" performance and said he has a lot to offer the national team: "He links up well, he's strong, tall, and has great vision."
Scaloni included Paz among the younger players who, he believes, push the regular starters to stay sharp: "They know that if they give a teammate a chance, they might lose their spot." After the win over Bolivia, Argentina remains top of the South American World Cup Qualifiers for 2026, with 22 points from 10 games, holding a three-point lead over second-place Colombia.