Coach Scaloni: 'Messi's achievements have special value'
In the friendly match against Curacao 7-0, Messi contributed a hat-trick. The 35-year-old striker thus raised the team's scoring record to 102. He became the first player to achieve a triple-digit record with Argentina. The players behind Messi have not reached 60: Gabriel Batistuta (56 goals), Sergio Aguero (41 goals), Hernan Crespo (35 goals), Diego Maradona (34 goals), Gonzalo Higuain (31 goals) and Angel Di Maria (29 goals).
"I hope Messi scores more goals," said coach Scaloni. "Messi's achievement deserves to be recognized by everyone. It is good that he achieved this achievement in Argentina. It has special value."
Messi will turn 36 in June. The Argentina captain is uncertain about his ability to attend the 2026 World Cup. It all depends on Messi's fitness, form, injury, or choice. Coach Scaloni himself does not know how Messi plans, but hopes the students continue and be as happy as they are now.
Under the guidance of Scaloni, Argentina is achieving an unprecedented series of achievements. They ended 28 years empty-handed when they won the Copa America 2021. By 2022, Messi and his teammates won the Intercontinental Super Cup and the World Cup. The 2022 World Cup is Argentina's first World Cup in 36 years. The blue and white striped team was crowned for the first time in 1978 at home. By 1986, Maradona's generation won the Gold Cup in Mexico.
The victory over Curacao and the previous match, beating Panama 2-0 on March 23, was an opportunity for Argentina to celebrate the World Cup with home fans. When asked about the most emotional moment of the past four years, Scaloni chose the moment of the start of the victory over Panama. "At that point, the players came on the field and everyone started singing Muchachos on the Monumental field," Scaloni said. "I like it more than winning the World Cup final."
Winning the World Cup has brought many individual titles for Argentina. In a poll organized by FIFA earlier this year, Scaloni won the best coach award. Messi won The Best, while Emiliano Martinez won the Best Goalkeeper.
Argentina also has a friendly match against Cameroon in Bangladesh in June. Bangladesh, which borders India and Myanmar, is one of the countries with the most Argentine fans. From September, Scaloni's teachers and students will play a qualifying round for the 2026 World Cup in South America.
In June 2024, Argentina will defend the Copa America in the US. The tournament consists of 16 teams from two regions of South America and CONCACAF.
