Scaloni: 'Messi will attend Copa America 2024'

"Messi will continue to play at the top level for as long as he wants," Scaloni added to Spanish radio station Noche. "I won't stop Messi from participating in the Copa America. Messi is playing in the US but that doesn't mean he has lost his competitiveness, because he already has the competitive gene in him."

Before the 2022 World Cup, Messi said it would be his last tournament with Argentina. But after the team won, the 36-year-old captain said he would play a few more games as world champion. Argentine media also believe that Messi will attend the Copa America 2024, which will take place from June 20 to July 14.

Copa America 2024 will take place in the US, with 10 teams from South America and 6 teams from North Central America. Messi is playing with Inter Miami in the MLS, so it won't take him long to travel to the venue. Argentina is the defending champion, when they take the throne in 2021 and it is also Messi's first title with the team.

Coach Scaloni is in the city of A Coruna, Spain to attend a local festival. He spent most of his career as a player, playing for Deportivo La Coruna from 1998 to 2006. Thousands of fans gathered in the square to welcome Scaloni back. When introducing his name, a female MC said: "Lionel Mess...", then changed it to: "Lionel Scaloni", causing both of them to laugh.

Scaloni played at the same time as Juan Pablo Aimar, Juan Roman Riquelme, Esteban Cambiasso or Walter Samuel. He also played for Argentina when Messi made his debut against Hungary in 2005, but he received a red card there.

Scaloni's first major tournament to lead Argentina was the 2019 Copa America, when the team finished third. However, he thinks that result is important and is the foundation for the team to win three consecutive titles, namely the 2021 Copa America, the Intercontinental Cup and the 2022 World Cup.