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JUAN CASTRO
Updated
LeoMessi steps away from the Argentina national team, world champion and runner-up in the last two World Cups, and it is clear that doubts loom over the coming years for the ‘Albiceleste‘.
Argentina has in the immediate future the qualifying phase for the 2030 World Cup (which it will play, even though it is already qualified for being a “host”) and the 2028 Copa América, the most important tournament on the horizon and whose venue appears to be the United States. And, evidently, the competition goes on… but without Messi many doubts assail the Albiceleste.
Lionel Messi announces retirement from Argentina with emotional farewell video
The first unknown of all will be the future of the other great leader of the national team, a quiet leader but one who has his place in the pulpit: Lionel Scaloni. In theory, his contract ends in December of this year. After the final on July 19, he hinted that his time might be over. And Messi’s retirement opens up even more questions about whether or not Scaloni will be the national team coach in the coming years. For now, he will still be there for the Albiceleste’s September-October and November matches.
Messi’s retirement (Otamendi has also already announced it) may not be the only one among the heavyweights of the Albiceleste. The future of other key figures such as Rodrigo De Paul, Leandro Paredes or goalkeeper “Dibu” Martínez is also yet to be decided. Surely, we will have news in the coming days-months, but it would not be surprising if more than one also brings their international career to an end.
By 2027, it will be a very different Argentina. Who will take command from Messi, Otamendi, Di María and company? All eyes are on players such as Julián Álvarez, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister or Thiago Almada. They will be the ones leading a group that will forever miss the indelible mark of this generation led by Leo that won those four titles in five glorious years (2022 World Cup, 2021 and 2024 Copa Américas, and 2022 Finalissima).
