Scaloni praised Messi and highlighted his staying power at the World Cup

Lionel Scaloni once again made a strong statement about Lionel Messi in the middle of the World Cup: "While Messi wants to, he will be the best". The coach of the Argentina national team also said he is not surprised by what the captain is doing at this World Cup, in a sign of total backing for the figure who continues to set the team’s rhythm.

Messi, back at the center of the Argentine map

The coach’s remark comes at a time when Argentina keeps moving forward in the competition and with Messi carrying much of the attention around the team. Scaloni chose a direct, no-nonsense view to describe the captain’s present and to make it clear that, as long as he still has the desire, his class is not up for debate.

Lionel Scaloni: "While Messi wants to, he will be the best".

The line speaks not only about performance, but also about staying power. In the world of the national team, Messi remains the name around which much of the analysis is organized, and the coach himself once again underlined that what he is showing at the World Cup is exactly what one would expect from a player of his stature.

The Scaloneta, with its sights set on what comes next

Meanwhile, the national team’s schedule remains focused on the competition and the next steps on the World Cup path. The side led by Scaloni is preparing to face the quarterfinals against Switzerland in Kansas City, where it will wear its first-choice shirt.

In addition, ahead of the match there were other references to the team’s setup and the football debate around the call-up and the squad’s biggest names, with Lautaro Martínez, Julián Álvarez and Enzo Fernández among the surnames that usually enter the conversation whenever the Scaloneta is discussed.

What the day leaves behind

• Messi remains the great beacon of the Argentina national team.
• Scaloni highlighted his staying power with a forceful line.
• Argentina will face Switzerland in the quarterfinals in Kansas City.
• The national team will use its traditional shirt for that clash.

A message that also sets the internal tone

The coach’s statement also works as an internal message: Scaloni’s leadership remains fully confident in the team’s leader, without needing to overstate each step of the tournament. In a national team that is already established in the upper bracket of the draw, backing the captain appears as a constant rather than a novelty.

At the same time, the World Cup keeps leaving talking points around Argentina, from the collective performance to the doubts that sometimes arise over what happens in both boxes. But amid that scenario, Scaloni preferred to focus on Messi’s staying power and his specific weight within the project.

What’s next for the national team

With the clash against Switzerland already on the horizon, the Argentina national team is preparing for another major test in this World Cup. The expectation is centered on how the team responds in a decisive round and what role Messi will once again play along that path.

For now, the coach’s message is clear: as long as the captain wants to keep going, his place in the tournament’s elite is not in question.