Scaloni reveals how he convinced Messi to return for Argentina farewell match
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni said he persuaded Lionel Messi to come out of international retirement for a farewell match, emphasizing that a player of Messi's stature deserved a chance for fans to pay tribute. Scaloni told journalists he played an instrumental role in convincing the 39-year-old, with support from the president of the Argentina Football Association (AFA). Messi had retired after Argentina's loss to Spain in the FIFA World Cup final, a defeat that deeply affected him while he was also grieving his father's passing. Scaloni stated, "I think a player like him deserves this. Personally, I did my part. We pushed for him to be able to play in this match." He added that the timing was optimal because future developments are uncertain, and both he and the AFA fulfilled their responsibilities to make the tribute happen. The farewell match will allow supporters to honor Messi's contributions to the national team. Scaloni expressed satisfaction with Messi's decision to participate, noting that the legend wanted to say goodbye to his people. The AFA and its president also played their part in facilitating the return, which Scaloni described as truly meaningful and deserving for Messi. This development comes amid other sports news, including AFCON 2027 qualifiers and Ballon d'Or discussions, but the focus remains on celebrating Messi's international career with a final appearance for Argentina.