Lionel Scaloni moved quickly to bring Lionel Messi back to Argentina because he was not certain he would still be coaching the national team when the opportunity for a farewell eventually came.
The Argentina manager said he “pushed hard” to make sure Messi could return for one final appearance in front of his home supporters, even though the forward had already announced his retirement from international football. Scaloni believes the timing matters because Messi’s departure deserves to be marked while the player, coach and supporters can still share the moment together.
Messi is scheduled to return to Argentina’s squad for a farewell friendly against Benin at Buenos Aires’ Monumental Stadium on October 6. The appearance comes only weeks after the former Barcelona and Paris Saint Germain forward announced his decision to retire from international football in August.
For Scaloni, however, waiting was not an option.
“I believe that a player like him deserves this,” Scaloni told reporters on Thursday. “Personally, I did my part because I wanted to be at his farewell.”
Scaloni wanted Messi farewell while he was still in charge
Scaloni’s own position made the situation more complicated.
The 48 year old coach is contracted with the Argentine Football Association until December, meaning there is no certainty that he will remain in charge when Argentina eventually plans another major tribute to Messi.
That uncertainty influenced Scaloni’s decision to push for the farewell match now rather than leave it for a later date.
“Since I don't know if I would be here later, we pushed hard so that he could be in this match,” Scaloni said.
The coach also acknowledged that Messi is going through a significant transition after ending his international career. Despite that, the Argentina captain has agreed to return and make the effort to appear before supporters who have followed his career through its most important moments.
“We knew everything he was going through and even so, he put in the desire and effort to want to come and be able to say goodbye with his people, with the people who love him so much,” Scaloni said.
The planned appearance will give Messi an opportunity to say goodbye directly to Argentina supporters rather than ending his international career without a final home match.
For Scaloni, that personal connection is important.
Messi's Argentina career reaches its final chapter
Messi’s international career has included some of the biggest highs and most painful setbacks in Argentina football history.
He eventually led the national team to the 2022 World Cup title, completing the major international achievement that had eluded him for much of his career. Before that triumph, Messi had endured several difficult defeats with Argentina, including losses in major tournament finals.
Under Scaloni, the team also won two Copa America titles, establishing one of the most successful periods in modern Argentine football.
Messi’s relationship with the national team changed dramatically during that period. The criticism that had followed him for years gave way to widespread celebration as Argentina collected major trophies.
His retirement therefore marks more than the departure of a veteran player. It closes the international chapter of a career that has defined Argentine football for more than a decade.
The farewell against Benin is expected to give supporters an opportunity to see Messi in an Argentina shirt one more time on home soil.
Scaloni believes there is value in doing that while the circumstances are still right.
“If we have to pay tribute, we have to do it at this moment,” he said. “With him, it will never stop, but later, the magic might not be the same.”
Scaloni's own future remains unresolved
While preparations continue for Messi’s farewell, questions surrounding Scaloni’s future remain unanswered.
The coach has overseen Argentina’s most successful recent period, guiding the team to the 2022 World Cup title and two Copa America triumphs. His current contract is due to expire in December, leaving the next stage of his tenure uncertain.
Scaloni said he expects to meet Argentine Football Association president Claudio Tapia in the coming days to discuss what happens next.
There has been no final agreement announced, and Scaloni did not suggest that he had already made a decision about whether to continue.
Instead, he pointed to discussions with the federation as the next step.
“It is a dream come true, but that doesn't mean I have to cling to the job forever,” Scaloni said.
His comments suggest that remaining Argentina coach will depend on more than simply his desire to continue. The coach said there are conditions that need to be discussed with Tapia before the two sides can determine whether they can reach an agreement.
“There are certain conditions we need to discuss with the president and we'll see if we can reach an agreement,” he said.
That uncertainty was one of the reasons Scaloni wanted Messi’s farewell arranged without delay.
A farewell shaped by uncertainty
The timing gives the October 6 match an added significance.
Messi will have the chance to appear before Argentina supporters after announcing his international retirement, while Scaloni will oversee the occasion despite having no guarantee that he will remain in the dugout beyond December.
For the coach, the situation is personal as well as professional. He wants to be present when one of the most influential players in Argentina’s history says goodbye to the supporters who have backed him throughout his career.
Scaloni’s comments also reveal why he did not want the farewell postponed indefinitely. A future ceremony could involve a different coach, different circumstances and a different version of Messi’s relationship with the national team.
The October match provides a defined moment.
It gives Messi a stage in Buenos Aires, gives Argentina supporters the opportunity to see him again in national colours and allows Scaloni to take part in the farewell while his own future remains open.
The next few months could therefore bring two major changes for Argentina at once: the end of Messi’s international playing career and a decision on whether Scaloni will continue leading the team.
For now, the focus is on October 6 and Messi’s return to the Monumental. Will you be watching Messi’s final Argentina appearance?