Argentina thrash Zambia 5-0, Scaloni hopes Messi will "decide to come" to World Cup

Record ID: 2372421

  • Title: Argentina thrash Zambia 5-0, Scaloni hopes Messi will "decide to come" to World Cup
  • Date: 1st April 2026
  • Summary: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (MARCH 31, 2026) (REUTERS) ARGENTINA HEAD COACH, LIONEL SCALONI, ENTERING PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM SCALONI DURING PRESS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ARGENTINA HEAD COACH, LIONEL SCALONI, SAYING: "It's also true that I believe everyone wants to see him (Lionel Messi) play, and everyone will enjoy it. For my part, I will do everything possible to ens
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords: Argentina Messi Scaloni Soccer World Cup Zambia friendly
  • Location: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
  • City: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: South America / Central America,Soccer,Sport
  • Reuters ID: LVA001925701042026RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Argentina crushed Zambia 5-0 on Tuesday (March 31) in their final World Cup warm-up match on home soil. 
    The world champions were dominant from the first whistle at La Bombonera, opening the scoring in just the third minute through Julian Alvarez. Lionel Messi doubled the lead before halftime with a clinical finish, Nicolas Otamendi converted a penalty for the third, Dominic Chanda added an own goal, and Valentin Barco completed the rout in stoppage time.
    Messi, 38, was the standout player on the night, contributing a goal and two assists in front of 57,000 fans at La Bombonera, who serenaded him after the final whistle with chants urging him to lead Argentina to another World Cup title. 
    Coach Lionel Scaloni used his post-match press conference to address Messi's future with the national team, leaving the door open for the veteran star. "If he decides to come, we will sit down, talk and look for the best," Scaloni said, adding that Messi "will always want to be here and want to compete."
    With the World Cup squad announcement approaching, the coach said his priority is player fitness over tactics. "It is much more important that they arrive well than deciding the starting eleven. I need everyone to arrive in minimum conditions," he added.
    Argentina will compete in Group J at the World Cup, to be held across the United States, Mexico and Canada in June and July, alongside Austria, Algeria and Jordan.
    (Production: Horacio Soria, Liamar Ramos)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2026. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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