At the Monumental, a night that could double as a farewell
The word coming out of Argentina’s camp is simple: enjoy it. Lionel Scaloni said it more than once as he looked ahead to the World Cup qualifier against Venezuela at River Plate’s Monumental. The message wasn’t just about three points. It was about a moment that may not come again — what many believe could be the last time the country’s greatest player walks out in the national shirt on Argentine soil.
He didn’t announce a goodbye. There’s no ceremony planned. But the circumstances make the match feel different. Argentina, the reigning world champion, doesn’t have another home date on the calendar between this qualifier and the run-up to the next World Cup. That turns Thursday in Buenos Aires into something heavy: a competitive fixture that might also be a quiet goodbye.
Scaloni admitted the night will hit him too. Coaching Lionel Messi, he said, has been a privilege. He stopped short of turning it into a farewell tour, but he leaned into the emotion of the occasion. He wants the supporters to take it in, to watch every touch, to remember what it has felt like for nearly two decades to see No. 10 in the albiceleste.
Here’s what we know. Messi, now 38 and playing his club football with Inter Miami, has not committed to the 2026 World Cup. He hasn’t closed the door either. After Argentina’s recent 3–0 win over Venezuela, he said he needed time to think about the next step. Scaloni said he hasn’t pressed for an answer and won’t. The captain will decide on his own schedule.
That stance fits the tone around the team. No one wants to rush a decision that will define how this era ends. Messi is Argentina’s record appearance maker and all-time leading scorer. He has lifted everything there is to lift in the shirt: the Copa América, the Finalissima, and the World Cup. If this is a last dance at home, it happens with the big boxes already ticked.
What does that mean for the match itself? Players and staff know the stage and the stakes. Venezuela is no pushover, but the storyline towers over tactics. The night will be about gratitude as much as it is about points. The Monumental has seen Messi at his most celebrated — title parades, ovations, that shared feeling of relief and joy after Qatar. If this is the end of his home chapter, it closes in the one place that always felt like the national team’s living room.
Still, this is a qualifier, and the team needs to manage the emotions. Scaloni’s group has been good at that since 2021: clear roles, fast transitions, a calm midfield, and a front line that can switch between control and chaos. He’ll rotate if he has to and watch minutes carefully, especially with veterans. But the plan won’t change because of the narrative. Argentina will try to put the game away early and let the night breathe.
Fans are treating it like a tribute even without the official label. The idea that there might never be another Messi game in Buenos Aires is hard to process. Most of the world saw his genius on TV; Argentines saw it up close. They watched the teenage prospect grow into a leader who carried the weight of a nation through near-misses and heartbreaks before finally lifting the trophy that changed the conversation for good.
Scaloni’s future, 2026, and the shape of the next cycle
While the spotlight sits on Messi, another question hangs over the bench. Will Scaloni stay for the next cycle? He has not said yes. He has not said no. He has asked for space to reflect. That tracks with how he has managed his tenure — steady, understated, focused on the group ahead of any single storyline.
His track record speaks loudly. Since taking over, he turned a drifting team into a ruthless one. The run includes a Copa América title, the Finalissima win over Italy, and the World Cup in Qatar. He refreshed the squad without breaking what worked, balanced experience with emerging talent, and built a core that can win ugly or look brilliant. This isn’t common at international level, where time is short and chemistry is fragile.
Even so, cycles end. Coaches who win everything often step back, if only to reset. Scaloni hinted he hasn’t ruled out anything about his future. That leaves the federation and the locker room in wait-and-see mode. The players trust him. He has credibility with the board. But he also knows how heavy the job is when the standard is perfection.
If he stays, the plan into 2026 looks clear: keep the identity, keep the spine, and manage the handover as veterans age. The core pieces are there — a defense that understands each other, a midfield that can carry and press, and forwards who can run behind or drop in. When Messi plays, the team bends to him. When he rests, the structure holds. That was the breakthrough of this era: Argentina doesn’t collapse without its star, it adapts.
And if he goes? The next coach inherits a group that knows exactly how it wants to play. The challenge won’t be building belief. It will be handling a transition in which the most decisive player of the century may appear less often, or not at all. That takes tactical tweaks and, just as importantly, the right tone in the dressing room. You can’t replace Messi’s presence. You spread responsibility and keep the bar high.
What about the captain’s decision itself? Messi’s calendar is different now. MLS travel, a busy summer slate, and the physical management that comes with age all matter. He has spoken before about listening to his body and choosing moments carefully. The 2026 World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico is tempting for obvious reasons — massive stage, familiar venues, and a chance to lead a title defense — but it’s also a two-year commitment. He will take his time because he has earned that right.
There’s also the emotional piece. Argentina’s relationship with Messi changed after Qatar. The debate stopped. The gratitude started. That makes the question of a goodbye complicated. If he never plays another home game, does that change how people feel? Not really. The story arc is complete. What remains is appreciation — and a desire to see him one more time in the places that shaped the soundtrack of his international career.
So what should fans expect tonight? Don’t expect a scripted farewell. Expect a competitive match inside a celebration. Expect cameras tracking Messi’s every step: the walk down the tunnel, the pregame huddle, the small talk with the referee, the glance at the family section. Expect the coach to do what he always does — protect the group, keep the pace high, and read the game from the first tackle.
And yes, expect noise. The Monumental knows its role. The songs will be old and loud. And if the ball finds Messi’s left foot in the box, the reaction will be instantaneous — as if everyone understands that the goal isn’t just to win the game, but to lock away another memory.
Scaloni didn’t give a headline about his future. He gave a feeling. He said this one is special and asked the country to be present for it. That says enough. Whatever comes next — his own decision on the bench, the captain’s call on 2026 — will land in its own time. For one night, it’s simple: Argentina plays, the crowd watches, and a generation’s worth of moments pass before their eyes.
If you’re keeping track of the big questions, here’s the short list the camp won’t answer tonight but everyone is thinking about:
- Will Messi play the 2026 World Cup? He hasn’t decided, and the staff isn’t pushing.
- Is this his last Argentina appearance at home? It could be, given the current schedule.
- Is Scaloni staying? He’s keeping all options open, and the federation is patient.
- Can Argentina win while transitioning? The last three years suggest yes, if the core stays healthy.
These questions can wait. The game cannot. Kickoff comes, and the Monumental becomes a chorus. If this is the last home chapter, it will read like the rest of Messi’s Argentina story — competitive, emotional, and unforgettable for the people who’ve lived it with him from the first cap to the final whistle.
