Coach Lionel Scaloni has called on the media and Argentina fans to stop questioning whether Lionel Messi will play in the 2026 World Cup.

“We’ll see what happens, the 2026 World Cup is still a long way away,” ESPN quoted Scaloni as saying on March 26. “We have to focus on each game. Otherwise we’ll keep talking about the same thing until the end of the year. Leave Messi alone. Messi will decide at the right time, don’t make him crazy about this.”

In June 2023, Messi announced that he would not participate in the 2026 World Cup. However, in subsequent interviews, the Inter Miami striker said that he had not decided whether to participate in this tournament or not, due to physical and age issues. He emphasized that he had won the most important title of his career at the 2022 World Cup, and was no longer concerned about competing for the Golden Ball.

Messi will be 39 when the 2026 World Cup takes place in the United States, Mexico and Canada. If he plays in the tournament, the Argentina captain will have the chance to break his own record for most World Cup appearances (26). He could also improve on his 13 World Cup goals, or break the record of 16 set by former Germany international Miroslav Klose.

Messi was included in Argentina’s preliminary 33-man squad for the recent training camp, but withdrew due to injury. Despite not having the former Barca and PSG star, Argentina still won both matches: 1-0 against Uruguay and 4-1 against Brazil, to soon secure a ticket to the 2026 World Cup.

Scaloni praised the collective spirit when Argentina won without Messi. He said it was a team victory because they played as a team. “That’s why we beat Brazil,” the 46-year-old coach said. “That’s the only way to beat Brazil. There will be games where we suffer and others where we don’t. We have to show that we can play in different situations.”

Meanwhile, Rodrigo De Paul is confident that Messi will soon return and participate in the 2026 World Cup. “Argentina always play best when the ‘number 10’ is on the field, because he is the greatest player of all time,” the 30-year-old midfielder emphasized.

On social media, Messi also congratulated the team after the wins over Uruguay and Brazil. The 38-year-old striker wrote on Instagram: “I follow the team both on and off the pitch. We always talk through our performances on the pitch. Congratulations on the team’s great match against Brazil, and also the win against Uruguay.”