‘Argentina need the title more than Lionel Messi’: Lionel Scaloni targets Copa America glory on home turf next summer as he looks to end trophy drought stretching back to 1993
- Lionel Messi has never won a major international trophy with Argentina
- Next summer’s Copa America could be his last continental tournament
- Lionel Scaloni says there will be more on the line than just Messi’s record
Lionel Messi has a chance to win the Copa America on his own turf next summer – but Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni says the competition will be about more than just the Barcelona star.
Messi has never won a major international honour with Argentina, and now he is 32, time is of the essence.
Next year’s tournament is being held in Argentina and Colombia and the fixtures were revealed earlier this week, with Messi’s men starting against Chile.
Next year’s Copa America gives Lionel Messi another shot at winning an international title
‘Argentina need the title, more than just Messi,’ Scaloni said.
‘Hopefully, don’t promise anything, but we’ll give the maximum to reach the final.
‘Chile has always been difficult for Argentina, especially in recent times. Difficult, but we are fine.’
Lionel Scaloni is plotting a way for Argentina to win the event for the first time since 1993
Argentina last won the Copa America in 1993 and the nation is desperate to finally get their hands on the trophy once again.
There is also talk that it could be Messi’s last Copa America, with the next tournament after this in 2024 when he will be 37.
‘I don’t know if it will be the last. Hopefully not,’ Scaloni said of Messi’s future.
