Lionel Scaloni says Lionel Messi’s Argentina farewell will be hard not to cry at | OneFootball

Lionel Scaloni says Lionel Messi’s final outing for Argentina is scheduled for six October in Buenos Aires against Benin, and that keeping emotions in check will be difficult. According to L'Équipe, the coach feels fortunate to witness his captain’s farewell.

He has offered Messi the chance to say goodbye as he wishes, and said on Thursday that the occasion would be intensely emotional.

Messi has been called up for the match after 203 caps and 125 goals since 2005. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner announced his international retirement at 39 at the end of August.

Scaloni added that the staff did everything to make Messi’s participation possible, as he does not know whether he will still be in charge later. In post since 2018, he is out of contract on 31 December, and said there was nothing new regarding his own future.

Asked about a possible ninth Ballon d’Or, with the ceremony on 26 October in London, Scaloni implied Messi is his leading choice if the award recognises the best player, and declined to expand.

Source: L'Équipe

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