"Messi will continue to come until he says otherwise", says Argentina coach Scaloni

After lifting the World Cup in December, Messi confirmed that he wants to continue playing for Argentina, and he has been invited to the squad for friendlies against Panama and Curaçao.

In his press conference on Tuesday, Scaloni was asked about Messi’s future in the national team.

"Messi will continue to come until he says otherwise. I see him happy on the pitch and within the selection,

" Scaloni said.

"Leo's looking good to me. He deserves all that love. He and all the players who are here deserve to go out and receive that love because they have not been able to live it.

"Leo, although he is the best of all, he also needs to see that his people love him. This is something that will stay with him forever."

Lionel Scaloni also said his players need to maintain their high competitive level after winning the World Cup and Copa America.

"We are world champions, but that doesn't mean we have the right for more,"

he said

. "Just because we win we can't do whatever we want.

"That's what [the players] have to understand. The message is that a new process is beginning: the pitch is what rules.

"From there on, those who are world champions have no advantage, we will have to keep working.

"The Argentina shirt doesn't allow you not to give your best, that's clear to us. Afterwards, it's good to celebrate, but we have to do our job on the pitch."

Scaloni, who recently signed a new contract with Argentina until 2026, confirmed that those who featured at the World Cup will start Thursday's match in Buenos Aires.

"I'd like for the people [in the stadium] to watch their players,"

he said.

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