After over 20 years, Messi set for Argentina farewell appearance on Sunday

Scaloni said he pushed for the Argentina captain to feature in the tribute. He believes Messi deserves the chance to greet his fans.

“Messi deserves this moment, and I have done my part to help him play in the match,” Scaloni said.

The coach said Messi wanted to return and say goodbye to Argentine supporters despite the challenges he had faced.

“We knew what he was going through, but he still wanted to come and bid farewell to his people,” he said.

Scaloni said the tribute should happen now rather than at an uncertain time in the future.

“Messi’s legacy will endure, but the magic of the moment may not feel the same later. We believe now is the right time to honour him,” he added.

The coach also credited the Argentine Football Association AFA and its president, Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia, for supporting the plan.

Scaloni said he spoke directly with Messi to convince him to accept the opportunity. He noted that nobody knows what the future holds.

The planned appearance at Ezeiza would give Argentine supporters a chance to celebrate Messi’s contribution to the national team over more than two decades.

Messi captained Argentina to victory at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The triumph added to his legacy in Argentine football.