Overview

• At an AFA event in Miami, Lionel Scaloni said the 3-0 win over Venezuela was surely not Lionel Messi’s last game in Buenos Aires and that the captain deserves to play there again.
• Scaloni described Messi’s September 4 appearance as an emotional, “redondo” night in which he scored and celebrated with his family.
• Citing lessons from 2022, Scaloni said he will wait until close to the tournament to name Argentina’s final World Cup squad to account for injuries and form.
• Argentina’s next friendlies are set for October 2025 in the United States: Venezuela on October 10 in Miami and Puerto Rico on October 13 in Chicago.
• Further tune-ups include November matches against Angola and another opponent to be confirmed, with a March 2026 Finalissima versus Spain and a domestic farewell match under consideration.