Argentina face post-Messi chaos

Argentina faces a new phase following Lionel Messi's retirement from international football, at a time when the situation within the Argentine Football Association does not seem stable, with uncertainty surrounding several issues, most notably the future of coach Lionel Scaloni.

Lionel Messi, aged 39, has decided to retire from international football after a career in which he led his country to the top, leaving the Argentina national team without its historic captain, amid concerns about the wider implications of his departure.

The Argentine Football Association finds itself in a complicated position as its president, Claudio Tapia, is embroiled in a legal battle over money laundering allegations. Several media outlets have reported significant financial issues that could hinder the payment of bonuses owed to the coaching staff and players from the FIFA World Cup 2026, although Argentine press has denied the existence of such a crisis.

In this context, TyC Sports has clarified that bonuses for qualifying for the final stage of the FIFA World Cup are paid 180 days after the end of the tournament, which makes their immediate distribution impossible.

La Gazzetta dello Sport reports on the unstable atmosphere within the Argentine Football Association, describing the situation as chaotic, coinciding with the announcement of the national team's opponents during the international break in September: Burkina Faso, Bolivia, and Benin, for friendly matches.

Argentina may rest several key players, including Lautaro Martínez, Cristian Romero, Rodrigo De Paul, Julián Álvarez, Emiliano Martínez, and Alexis Mac Allister, due to the weakness of their opponents on one hand, and the uncertainty surrounding bonuses and the post-Messi era on the other.

The Argentine Football Association is cautiously handling the future of Scaloni, who is highly regarded by the players, as his contract ends in December. According to "La Gazzetta dello Sport", the coach believes his time has come to an end and is looking to depart.

Meanwhile, Argentinian press confirms that negotiations are ongoing to extend Scaloni's contract, with "TyC Sports" reporting that the Argentinian Football Association trusts the coach and is prepared to wait until the last moment to ensure his continuation at the helm of the most successful project in the history of the national team.

Thus, the post-Messi phase appears to be fraught with obstacles for the Argentina national team, with uncertainty continuing around Scaloni's future and several issues within the federation.