Argentina will leave Lionel Messi to decide whether he wants to represent the national team at the 2028 Copa America, with football association president Claudio Tapia insisting the 39-year-old will face no pressure over his international future.
Messi has not yet revealed whether he intends to continue playing for Argentina after the 2026 World Cup, despite producing another outstanding tournament. He scored eight goals and provided four assists as Argentina reached the final, where they suffered a painful 1-0 extra-time defeat by Spain.
Speaking to Argentine television channel TyC Sports, Tapia said the decision would be made solely by Messi.
“This is entirely his personal decision. He was the symbol of this tournament, just as he has been in every tournament he has played in,” said Tapia.
Messi’s next international appearance remains uncertain, having already surpassed expectations with his performances at the 2026 World Cup. Before the tournament, there had also been doubts about whether he would still be playing for Argentina.
“In 2022, we did not know whether he would play in 2026. He said he was focused on taking each match at a time, and we saw him at his best, if not the best he has ever been,” Tapia added.
“We should be proud of him. I hope he continues to enjoy football, that we continue to enjoy watching him, and that he makes the decision he believes is right.”
Scaloni’s future also under scrutiny
Tapia also addressed uncertainty surrounding Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni, whose contract expires at the end of this year.
Scaloni said he would reconsider his position after Argentina’s defeat by Spain in the World Cup final, raising the possibility that the team could be forced to make a major change following another successful period.
Tapia made clear that retaining Scaloni is his priority, although he acknowledged that the final decision rests with the manager.
“My first plan, my second plan and my third plan are Scaloni. I want him to continue, and we all want him to continue. I have to respect his decision, allow him time to think carefully and let him make the decision he believes is right,” said Tapia.
“I cannot force him to stay if he feels he lacks the motivation needed or does not see a route to achieving further success.”
Scaloni, 48, is widely regarded as the most successful manager in Argentina’s history. What began as a temporary appointment in 2018 developed into a golden era for the national side, bringing three successive major international trophies.
Argentina won the Copa America in 2021, the World Cup in 2022 and another Copa America title in 2024 under Scaloni’s leadership.
Tapia ended his comments with an emotional tribute to the current Argentina side, which has delivered a sequence of major honours and helped strengthen the bond between the team and supporters.
“This is the best national team in history. It has brought joy to the entire Argentine people and succeeded in making people feel they belong to one group,” he said.
