Yet, a World Cup champion with great experience has issued a warning about what lies ahead for La Albiceleste.
What comes after Messi? Ricardo La Volpe
Ricardo La Volpe, World Cup champion with Argentina in 1978, recently shared his concerns about the future of the national team. In an interview with DSports Radio, he emphasized the importance of valuing current achievements but also mentioned the challenge ahead:
“Winning consistently is not easy, that’s why I value what the Argentina national team is doing,” he commented. However, he quickly added, “I want to see how the post-Messi era will unfold, because that won’t be easy.”
At 73 years old, La Volpe acknowledged Lionel contributions to the team, but he also highlighted a critical point.
“The real challenge will be finding a way to replace Messi, the threat he represents in the final third of the field,” he explained.
Furthermore, he underscored his fascination with tactical systems and how these may change in the absence of a player of Messi caliber.
Messi legacy and his future with the national team
After Argentina World Cup win in 2022, many expected Messi to retire from international football. However, the Argentine superstar surprised everyone by confirming that he would continue to represent Argentina.
“I want to keep playing a few more matches as a world champion,” Messi said at the time.
Lionel Scaloni also addressed the future of his star player in a recent interview, acknowledging that the possibility of Messi being part of the 2026 World Cup squad is increasingly likely. However, he made it clear that time will tell how the captain feels as the tournament approaches.
