Argentina coach cries after hugging Messi

After the final whistle, the camera lenses turned to Messi - the best player of the match. He congratulated each teammate and member of the coaching staff in turn. Coach Scaloni also waited for his turn, then hugged Messi and cried.

During the match, Scaloni suppressed his emotions better. When Messi took the penalty kick to open the scoring in the 34th minute, he didn't show any emotion on his face but just picked up a bottle of water to drink. When Argentina led 3-0 with a double from Julian Alvarez, Scaloni remained calm despite his assistant Juan Pablo Aimar holding his face and almost crying.

In the post-match interview, the 44-year-old coach said: "There's no doubt that Messi is the best player in history. It's not because he's Argentinian that we say that. Whenever he plays, he comes back. creating something for ourselves and our teammates. We are honored to see Messi wear the blue and white striped Argentina shirt."

Scaloni and Aimar were Messi's teammates at the 2006 World Cup, when Argentina lost to Germany on penalties in the quarter-finals. Scaloni retired in 2015 and worked with coach Jorge Sampaoli's coaching staff at Sevilla and then with the Argentina national team. He initially succeeded Sampaoli temporarily after the 2018 World Cup, and gradually showed his ability to win the Copa America 2021 and the 2022 Intercontinental Super Cup. He attended the 2022 World Cup as the youngest coach of the tournament.

Scaloni impressed at the World Cup when using many tactical systems such as 4-4-2, 4-3-3, 3-4-3 or 3-5-2 depending on the match context. He also let young players like striker Julian Alvarez or midfielder Enzo Fernandez play, when veterans like Lautaro Martinez or Papu Gomez disappointed in the first matches. After Messi, Alvarez and Fernandez all contributed significantly to helping Argentina reach the final.

FIFA reporter Semra Hunter said that Argentina has "two super Leos", referring to Lionel Messi and Lionel Scaloni. The Argentine newspaper Bolavip also said that Argentina reached the final because of Scaloni. "He took the job quietly, dismissed criticism, worked harder than anyone and trusted in his associates and players," the newspaper commented. "It is Scaloni that gives the fans confidence in the Argentina team."

After the match, Messi also praised the coaching staff: "Scaloni and his team prepared the match scenarios exactly as they happened. So our players know what to do in any situation."