Argentina: The coach pays a heartfelt tribute to Lionel Messi | OneFootball

Lionel Messi

After what was Lionel Messi's last match on Argentinian soil on Thursday night, Lionel Scaloni paid tribute to the legend.

On Thursday night, Lionel Messi scored a brace against Venezuela (3-0) in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. It was almost certainly the Argentine's last official match in his home country wearing the national team colors. While Messi was visibly moved, Argentina's head coach Lionel Scaloni paid an emotional tribute to his captain.

"There's not much to say about Leo's match... I was told afterwards that Leo was emotional. It's good that it happened. It's very difficult to reach where we are, in such a beautiful and positive situation. I was saying earlier that I don't like to look back, but if I do, I think about everything that had to happen for people to enjoy this. I hope it lasts," Scaloni told the media.