Argentina’s national team is currently enjoying one of the most successful eras in its history. Under the leadership of coach Lionel Scaloni, they have secured four major titles, and with Lionel Messi at the helm, they have dominated international soccer. However, one World Cup winner has expressed significant doubts about what lies ahead for the team.
“Winning often is not easy, and that’s why I value what the Argentine national team does,” Ricardo La Volpe remarked in a recent interview with DSports Radio. However, he quickly followed up with an observation: “I want to see what the post-Messi era will be like, because it’s something that’s not going to be easy.”
La Volpe, 73, who was a member of the 1978 World Cup-winning Argentina squad, spoke highly of Messi’s contributions. “You have to look at how Argentina will replace Messi, the danger of him hitting you in the final third of the field,” he said. “I’m a fan of tactical systems, and that’s why this is so intriguing to me.”
Delving further into tactical considerations, Ricardo reflected on how teams must adapt to different strategies based on the match context. “You don’t always have a team that can play on equal terms with the opponent. That’s when you need to understand that midfielders have to do a great job to level the playing field tactically… Today, the dynamics of soccer have evolved a lot.”
Messi’s future with Argentina
After winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, many expected Lionel Messi to retire from international soccer. However, he surprised fans and pundits alike by announcing his intention to continue with Argentina. “Obviously, I want to continue playing a few more games as world champion,” Leo said at the time.
Those “few more games” have now stretched into two years, with Messi continuing to shine for Argentina, even securing another title at the 2024 Copa America. Now, the next goal is the 2026 World Cup, and with just over a year until the tournament, it appears the forward will be aiming to make his sixth World Cup appearance.
“The first thing to note is that both Messi and his teammates are aware that there is still some time left, and the desire to play in the World Cup is there for him and for everyone,” Scaloni said in an interview with DSports a few weeks ago, acknowledging the growing likelihood that Lionel will be part of the 2026 World Cup squad. “But to be sure, we have to see how time goes by and how he’s feeling as we approach the tournament.”
Who is Ricardo La Volpe?
Ricardo La Volpe’s opinion carries weight in the world of soccer due to his distinguished past as both a player and coach. He was part of Argentina’s squad during their first World Cup victory in 1978, though he did not see any playing time during the tournament as he was the third-choice goalkeeper behind Ubaldo Fillol and Hector Baley.
After retiring as a player, La Volpe embarked on a successful coaching career that included stints with ten Mexican clubs and three Argentine clubs, including Boca Juniors. One of his most notable challenges came when he coached the Mexican National Team at the 2006 World Cup, where they reached the Round of 16 before falling 2-1 in extra time to Argentina, with Messi already featuring for the Albiceleste at the age of 19.