Scaloni: Messi will remain the best as long as he wishes

Lionel Scaloni, Argentina's coach, expressed confidence in Lionel Messi's enduring brilliance, stating, "As long as he wants, he will be the best." Scaloni noted that Messi's decisiveness, rather than increased running, defines his current impact, a phenomenon he attributes partly to the team's support.

Despite facing challenges against teams like Cabo Verde and Egypt, Scaloni defended his squad's performance, highlighting their ability to create scoring opportunities. He ranked the match against Egypt among his favorites due to its significance. Scaloni acknowledged that as reigning world champions, Argentina faces opponents playing the "game of their lives," but emphasized the team's resilience and competitive spirit, which he believes has improved since the Qatar World Cup.

The coach addressed the goal drought of forwards Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez, defending their contributions and expressing gratitude for their hard work. He acknowledged the difficulty of playing time when sharing the field. Looking ahead to the quarter-final against Switzerland, Scaloni described them as a formidable team with a strong tradition, experienced players, and physical prowess, noting their elimination of Colombia.