Who will be Lionel Messi's successor? Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni gives his take & delivers update on his & Inter Miami superstar's future ahead of potential emotional goodbye on home soil

Scaloni said there will never be a successor to Messi and played down any hopes of there being one. Argentina face Venezuela in World Cup qualification on Thursday with their place in the 2026 tournament already secured. But it could be an emotionally-charged day nonetheless, as it could end up being the last-ever official match for Argentina on home soil for both Messi and Scaloni.

Messi will turn 39 during the World Cup and there have been hints that he may hang up his boots and retire from international football afterwards. While he is still going strong for Inter Miami at club level, the end of an unforgettable career is beginning to draw closer for the man who many around the globe believe to be the greatest of all time.

Scaloni said: "An heir to Messi in Argentine or world football? No, there can't be one. There won't be. There may be great players who define an era, but what he has done for so long, I think will be unrepeatable. Football has many unimaginable things, but I can almost assure you that it will be impossible to see something like that. I think he has no rival.

"Tomorrow will be an emotional match. If it's true that it's the last game of the qualifiers, then it's going to be special".

The ultimate dream for Messi will be to inspire his nation to become back-to-back world champions in North America next summer. Afterwards, the path remains unclear. It is likely that Messi himself has not yet decided. Whatever happens, when the great man does decide to wave a heartfelt goodbye to his national side, the whole world will be watching and celebrating arguably the greatest ever.