Lionel Messi no longer the only plan for Argentina! Lionel Scaloni explains why World Cup winners can cope without GOAT captain

For the best part of 20 years, having made his international debut in 2005, Messi has been a talismanic presence for his country. He has reached 188 appearances for the Albiceleste, with a historic haul of 109 goals being registered along the way.

Messi broke his senior trophy duck with Argentina at the 2021 Copa America, before going on to win the Finalissima and World Cup in 2022. He is the most decorated player of all-time, with trophies still being collected at MLS side Inter Miami, but has passed his 37th birthday.

Argentina continue to find a leading role for their iconic No.10, but Scaloni has said of putting a system in place that can be replicated during any enforced absences for Messi: “For the game, it's important that Messi is there because almost all of the team's attack goes through him. In a goal-scoring play he's almost always there, but the idea of the game is always the same, whether he's there or not. We prefer him to be there, logically, but our football concept doesn't change, we already have a way of playing.”

Messi was missing due to injury during the September international break, as Argentina dropped 2026 World Cup qualifying points in Colombia, but returned for a 1-1 draw with Venezuela and will be hoping to inspire another victory when facing Bolivia on Tuesday.