Scaloni open to staying on as Argentina coach as Messi farewell nears

Argentina's coach says he is ready to discuss a contract extension, while the Oct. 6 friendly against Benin will mark Lionel Messi's final international appearance.

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni said Thursday that he is open to extending his stay with the national team, a shift after he suggested his time in charge was finished following the team's loss in the World Cup final. His current contract runs through December.

"We will talk — there is every willingness to sit down," Scaloni told reporters at the national team complex in Ezeiza. He added that any renewal involves "a bit of everything," referring to both financial and sporting factors, and that he plans to speak with Argentine Football Association president Claudio Tapia in the coming days.

Scaloni's comments come as several Argentina players have publicly urged him to remain, including new captain Cristian Romero, who inherits the armband after Lionel Messi retired from international football in late August. Under Scaloni, Argentina won the 2022 World Cup and back-to-back Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024 — the most successful run in the nation's history.

Argentina are preparing for friendlies against Bolivia on Sept. 30 at the Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium in Córdoba, followed by Burkina Faso on Oct. 3 and Benin on Oct. 6, both at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires. The Benin match will be Messi's last in an Argentina shirt.

Scaloni paid tribute to the 39-year-old forward, calling the chance to coach him "the ultimate experience" and adding, "There will never be anyone like him." Messi finishes as Argentina's all-time top scorer with 125 goals, including 21 at World Cups, and scored eight times in eight games at this year's tournament, his sixth World Cup.

Messi, an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner and a nominee for this year's award on Oct. 26, also received Scaloni's backing for the prize.

The squad for the upcoming friendlies features several new faces as Argentina begin life after Messi, defender Nicolás Otamendi and other retired veterans. New call-ups include defenders Tomás Palacios, Román Vega and Valentín Gómez, midfielders Tobías Andrada, Ezequiel Fernández and Santiago Simón, and winger Leonel Flores.