In Messi's farewell match for the national team, Argentina defeated Benin 3-0. Following the victory, Argentina coach Scaloni held a press conference to address questions from the media.

Opening remarks:

This is an extremely emotional day, and at the same time deeply sad, because he will no longer wear this shirt. My gratitude is infinite for everything he has given us. Thank you for always defending this shirt, for giving everything. For me, being able to coach him has been like a dream—that's the truth. Today I told him this in front of the entire team, with what little strength I had left. I think every Argentine would say the same thing. To make this happen has been like a dream.

Throughout my life, I never imagined I would coach the greatest player in football history. He deserves every award he has received; everything he has accomplished, he has earned. For two decades in his career, he has always been at the top, and he still is. We are deeply grateful to him for giving us the opportunity to fight alongside him. Tears flow from my eyes, and so many memories flood my mind. It is truly sad not to see him in the blue and white shirt again, for he leaves behind an unmatched legacy and richness. Of course, we must move forward, as I have always said—football continues, the Argentine national team will move ahead—but he is truly an irreplaceable player, without a doubt.

Coach, how are you feeling? What comes next? How do we move forward? Once the emotions you mentioned settle, if we can analyze things objectively beyond this melancholic atmosphere—I just tried to find something positive: Jai played in all three matches, Flores also appeared in three matches, Nico Paz played as you wished, getting more playing time... Beyond the emotional farewell of Leo, can this be considered a positive result? Thank you.

Yes, we now have to move forward without him. There is no doubt it will be very difficult. He also just said that everything we have experienced in recent years is not something guaranteed, and difficult times can come anytime, but we are capable of facing them. We have a new generation of young players who will contribute to the team, but the feeling of having him beside you is unmatched. It is difficult to compare it to anything else, and difficult to explain this feeling to others. You have to experience it yourself to truly understand what it means to have Messi beside you; he is irreplaceable. No matter how we rebuild the squad, we can build a good team, we can develop promising young players, but that... what people call an "aura"? Throughout my life, I have never seen it in anyone else. I have played with many great players, as I said a few days ago, but the impact and energy he brings—I have never seen it in anyone else, and that will be gone now. We will certainly need to explore new tactical approaches and different ways of playing, but that unique feeling will never return. So, being able to work with him has truly been extraordinary. Going forward, we must learn to move ahead without him, and we will, because that is the task before us.

Lionel, from Messi's expression today, how do you think he was feeling? Do you think he enjoyed this evening? Did you have a chance to speak with him beforehand?

No, I only greeted him. He has already experienced so much emotional turbulence; I couldn't ask him how he was feeling—it would have been too emotional. In fact, in the first half, even his teammates didn't know how to set up their attacks or choose their passing lanes; they were a bit nervous because it was such a special night. It wasn't easy for his teammates either, because they all wanted him to have the best farewell possible, and they see him the same way everyone else does. Even though they are all great players, he remains an unreachable figure to them. This is also why the first half wasn't played as well as it could have been; everyone was focused on trying to let him shine. But for him, this must have been a night full of emotion. It all started on Sunday, you know—everyone came to greet him, to talk to him. These past days must have been extremely intense emotionally. It's not easy to play after two days of such emotional fluctuation. But fortunately, we ended up winning the match.

Lionel, hello, good evening. Clearly, the emotional impact has overshadowed the competitive aspect itself, but across these three matches, is there a football-related conclusion you would like to share with us? Also, will this conclusion push you to finally decide to continue for the next cycle, to complete the squad update and restart the team's strength? Thank you.

The question is whether these three matches will force me to...?

Yes, beyond all the emotional aspects we just discussed, is there a competitive conclusion you would like to share? And based on this, are you determined to finalize a contract extension? What is holding you back from giving your final approval?

The addition of new players has injected vitality into us, bringing quality we didn't have before. We have many more players on the wings now, capable of attacking wide, which we didn't have previously. This is a good tactical choice, and we are pleased with it. Although these three matches did not fully meet our expectations in terms of performance level, ultimately our goal was to regroup, refine new ideas, observe their training status and understanding of each other, and they have shown good promise. We are satisfied with this. As for other matters, there has been no new progress.

Hello, Lionel, it's good to see you. Leo has left an indelible mark on all of us, hasn't he? He showed us the beauty of football and a human excellence rarely seen in elite competitive sport. Facing this inevitable reality, with his unavoidable departure, how do you plan to fill—not replace, but fill—the enormous void he will leave behind in the future, for you, for all of us? Thank you.

The only way to fill this void is to rely on a team, a great team where everyone contributes. In the past, when the team wasn't playing well, he could always break the deadlock with a moment of brilliance, but we won't have that dependency anymore. We have remarkable players, but we no longer have one person who can single-handedly launch an attack that diminishes all other dimensions. However, we have a collective that can accomplish many tasks, and even if we can't perform miracles, with the combined effort of the entire team, I believe we can fill this void. But as I have repeatedly said, he is an irreplaceable player. For me—I hope and truly believe I am not wrong—there will never be another player like him on the pitch. We are forever grateful for everything he gave us, for all the richness he left behind, and that is something I will carry in my heart. Because if all goes well, I will continue to sit in this position as head coach, and his rich legacy is truly remarkable. Seeing him play like that at an advanced age in the World Cup, fighting with passionate spirit, is the greatest example we can take. Therefore, I hold this spirit deep in my heart. Thank you all.

Diterjemahkan oleh AI.

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