Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni says nobody will wear Lionel Messi’s number 10 shirt before November, when a decision will be made on his successor.
The announcement came after Argentina’s 4-0 friendly win over Bolivia. Scaloni also said he had received no official information about the CONMEBOL-UEFA Cup of Champions against Spain, with its date still to be confirmed.
“Absolutely no one will wear it until November. It belongs entirely to Leo until then,” Scaloni said. “We have many excellent young players who deserve to wear it, but we will first speak privately to the player about whether they are ready to accept the responsibility.”
Scaloni also explained a substitution confusion involving Julian Alvarez, Lautaro Martinez and Jose Lopez. Alvarez had started preparing to leave when Lopez was seen on the touchline, but the decision was ultimately made to replace Martinez instead.
The Argentina manager said Alvarez had been told at half-time that he would play for around 20 to 25 minutes after the interval. He added that the forward had misunderstood the situation, rather than there being an error by the fourth official.
With Martinez having scored a fine goal and performed well, Scaloni felt it was more logical to allow him to leave the pitch to receive the applause. He also wanted Alvarez to remain on the field because he was physically strong and needed match time to regain his rhythm.
Scaloni praised Lopez’s impact as a substitute, describing him as an “extremely versatile centre-forward”. He said the 24-year-old’s pressing covered a large area, while he also offered a strong presence when defending set pieces.
“He can play as a dual striker, a lone striker, and even as a false winger on the right in certain tactical setups,” Scaloni said. “His emergence is a huge benefit for the national team.”
The manager also reflected on Argentina’s response after losing the World Cup final. He said his message to the squad was similar to the one he delivered after winning the World Cup in Qatar: wearing the national shirt meant continuing to compete and maintain the same attitude.
Scaloni said he was proud of those who wanted to remain involved, while making clear that players who no longer wished to continue could say so openly.
He reserved particular praise for Cristian Romero, who made his international debut 10 years ago at the Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium in Cordoba.
“Cuti is, without doubt, one of the best centre-backs in the world,” Scaloni said, while acknowledging that the defender’s physical condition during the World Cup had not been perfect. He added that Romero’s aggressive movements were an area for improvement and said the Argentina captain’s conduct must now be exemplary.
Asked who could link play in the final third, Scaloni highlighted Thiago Almada, Nico Paz and Franco Mastantuono. He said Almada, absent through injury, could play on the left, as an attacking midfielder or in midfield.
Scaloni added that Paz and Mastantuono could play together, although he chose not to use them in the same team against Bolivia to avoid unbalancing the side. Argentina still have “enough options” to use different systems, he said, and will continue to compete in the same style.
