Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has made clear that Lionel Messi alone will decide when to end his international career, rejecting any suggestion that retirement is on the horizon as the FIFA World Cup 2026 approaches.

Speaking to Diario olé, Scaloni said Messi's continued excellence stems from an insatiable hunger to win — a drive that shows no sign of fading. "He will play until he wants to because we already know what he is, and it is not surprising that he plays his sixth World Cup," the coach said.

Scaloni was candid about the collaborative nature of his relationship with the Argentina captain, insisting that major decisions are never made without consulting Messi directly. "Every decision we have made, we have discussed with him. It is useless for me to sit here and say that I decide: in his case, and I think it is deserved, I will always talk to him and ask him how he is, and we see if we reach an agreement," he said.

Value beyond the scoreline

The Argentina manager went further, arguing that even when Messi is hindered by physical difficulties, his mere presence on the pitch generates enormous value for the squad. "There are times when it is even better that he is in difficulty because of everything he generates," Scaloni added.

Messi has been out of action since May 24, nursing muscle fatigue in his left hamstring. According to ESPN, the Inter Miami captain is expected to return to full fitness before Argentina's opening group game.

Argentina are set to begin their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign against Algeria in Kansas City on June 16, before facing Austria and Jordan in their remaining group fixtures. A sixth World Cup appearance for Messi — a feat without precedent — is something Scaloni views as entirely natural given his player's unmatched competitive instinct.