Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.
Lionel Scaloni says Lionel Messi is leaving behind “something incomparable” as he prepares to play his final match for Argentina.
Messi announced his international retirement in the aftermath of Argentina’s World Cup final loss to Spain but will play one last game for the Albiceleste on home soil to say farewell to the fans.
The 39-year-old will face Benin on Tuesday, earning his 208th cap – the most of any player in the nation’s history.
He also has more goals for Argentina than any other player (125) and more goal involvements at the World Cup than anyone else in history (33 – 21 goals, 12 assists).
Over the summer, he became the only man to start three World Cup finals, having led Argentina to glory in 2022, and also lifting two Copa Americas on either side of that triumph.
And as he prepares for his final-ever Argentina appearance, Scaloni once again heaped praise on his team’s talisman.
“Messi leaves behind something unequalled,” Scaloni said.
“We have to keep playing, but the feeling of having him on the pitch is unique. I’ve never seen anyone else convey what he does on a football field, and that is what we’re going to miss.
“Only nostalgia remains now that he won’t be there. He is an incredible example. The first to arrive, the last to leave, how he takes care of himself, how he faces each game.
“You can see he is a phenomenon just by how he plays, but he has things behind him that his team-mates see, and he is the best example there can be.
“He has left – or is leaving, because he has one more game – something incomparable.”
Argentina have a so-far perfect record without Messi in the side, having beaten Bolivia 4-0 and Burkina Faso 7-0 across their two friendlies.
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