Scaloni's future has become Argentina's biggest question after Messi retirement
Lionel Scaloni's future has become the main issue facing the Argentina national team as the Argentine Football Association [AFA] prepares for the next stage of the project.
There is no real delay regarding the announcement of the squad for the next FIFA international window. More than 20 days remain before the first match, and Scaloni normally announces his selections around a week before the games. The opponents are also still being finalised, so the absence of an official squad or a leaked preliminary list should not be interpreted as a sign of a problem.
The bigger uncertainty is what happens to Scaloni after December.
His current contract expires at the end of the year, and although the AFA wants him to continue, the coach has not committed himself to another cycle. After Argentina's 1-0 defeat to Spain in the FIFA World Cup final, Scaloni made his position clear: “I'll fulfill my contract and then we'll see.”
Those words remain important because there is currently no certainty that he will stay. According to reports, the AFA is optimistic, however, and Claudio Tapia remains determined to convince the coach to continue. Initial contacts have reportedly been made, but Scaloni appears to want time before making a decision.
After Argentina's 1-0 defeat to Spain in the FIFA World Cup final, Scaloni made his position clear: “I'll fulfill my contract and then we'll see.”
The financial side is not expected to be an obstacle. The players and coaching staff are up to date with their payments, while bonuses connected to the World Cup follow an established timetable. The issue is therefore not money. It is whether Scaloni wants to commit himself to another demanding cycle.
That decision has become more complicated because Lionel Messi is no longer expected to be part of the national team. Messi's retirement changes the structure of the team and forces Argentina to begin planning for a future in which its most important player is no longer available.
Scaloni is fully aware of what that means. He knows the current squad better than anyone and has already introduced several younger players into the national team. Cristian Romero is expected to take over as captain, while Enzo Fernandez and Julian Alvarez are among those who will have greater responsibility in the next phase.
The challenge will be to build a team around collective strength rather than attempting to replace Messi with one player.
That transition could work in Scaloni's favour. He already understands the strengths of the squad and has the experience of managing Argentina through several difficult moments. A new coach would have to establish his ideas and relationships from the beginning.
But Scaloni also understands the scale of the task ahead.
The previous cycle was built around a generation that included Messi and other experienced leaders. The next one will require different players to assume responsibility. Walter Samuel, one of Scaloni's long-time assistants, has also left the senior national team to begin his own coaching career, meaning the coaching staff itself will undergo changes.
For the AFA, the objective is therefore clear: keep Scaloni and give him the conditions to build the next Argentina team.
For Scaloni, the decision is more personal. He has spent years under enormous pressure and has already achieved almost everything a coach can achieve with a national team. Continuing would mean starting another demanding project without Messi and with expectations that will remain extremely high.
There is no indication that Scaloni has decided to leave. Equally, there is no confirmation that he will stay.
For now, he will complete his contract, evaluate the next generation and consider whether he has the desire to lead Argentina into another cycle.
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