After Argentina’s 1-0 win over Brazil on November 21, in an ill-tempered World Cup qualifier at the famed Estádio Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro, the defending world champions were riding high. It was Argentina’s second consecutive victory over their arch rivals on Brazilian soil. Two years prior, the Albiceleste had won the Copa América final over Brazil inside the same stadium, which kicked off their remarkable run to the World Cup final in 2022.
During that journey, Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni became a national hero, although he was underappreciated at first. Scaloni was still seen as an untested international coach when Argentina defeated favored Brazil in the 2021 Copa América final. But he became an icon after Argentina’s thrilling win over France in Doha last December. So naturally, the world was surprised last month when Scaloni revealed that he was unclear about his future as Argentina’s head coach.
“Argentina wants a coach who has all the power imaginable and who is doing well,” Scaloni said promptly after beating Brazil in November. “I’ve got to avoid the ball and start thinking, I’ve got a lot to think about during this time. “
Advertisement
From the team area of the stadium, several Argentine players confessed to being surprised by their coach’s revelation. Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister told reporters that during the match Scaloni thanked him “for everything. ” A report from ESPN Argentina later stated that Scaloni would leave the national team after next summer’s Copa América in the United States, despite the fact that Scaloni had extended his contract with the Argentine Football Association (AFA) until 2026 in February.
Suddenly, Argentina’s excellent run under Scaloni came to a potentially premature end. But why would Scaloni walk away from such success?
Since Scaloni’s comments, the Argentine press has been busy theorizing about what happened. Several outlets have reported that Scaloni’s patience with the AFA has run out since the World Cup. The process of extending his contract, for example, has taken too long. And according to TyC journalist Ariel Senosiain, Scaloni and his staff, as well as the Argentine players, have not yet obtained their World Cup bonuses.
Scaloni’s courtship with AFA president Claudio Tapia has been seen as unwavering and mutually beneficial, ever since the former replaced Jorge Sampaoli after the 2018 World Cup. In 2019, Tapia selected Scaloni from among several high-profile candidates. At the time, he criticised the decision, considering that coaches such as Mauricio Pochettino, Diego Simeone and Marcelo Gallardo were beloved traits of fans and pundits, and that Scaloni’s only past formation enjoys as an assistant and coach of a youth team.
But with Scaloni’s reign, the national team’s logo took off, especially since the last World Cup. The AFA expanded its presence globally and took advantage of the cult of La Scaloneta, the nickname that Argentine fans gave to Scaloni’s team. The federation is now more commercially viable than ever.
Today, after decades of bureaucratic and political turmoil, the AFA is not as volatile as it was before 2022. However, it would be naïve to think that a South American football federation – even one of the strongest – would not be strongly influenced by the São Paulo Football Federation – and the São Paulo Football Federation – would not be strongly influenced by the São Paulo Football Federation – even one of the most solid – in fact.
The day after Argentina’s World Cup qualifier against Brazil, another TyC Sports journalist, Gustavo Grabia, reported that just before the national elections, Sergio Massa, the nation’s minister of economy, and the center-left candidate for the presidency, had requested a photo with the national team.
Massa and Tapia are said to be close, but according to Grabia, the players had refused to serve as political pawns. Tapia then pressured Scaloni to replace his mind, to no avail. The elections ended on November 20, the day before Argentina’s election. Massa lost the election to far-right candidate Javier Milei.
Advertisement
Another reason for Scaloni’s comment lies in the world of Argentine talk radio. There are hundreds of radio shows around the country that are dedicated to the national team. Buenos Aires-based Radio 10 is well followed. The day after Scaloni’s press conference, journalist Jorge Rial told Radio 10 listeners that Messi had been bothered by Scaloni’s decision to talk to the international press about his future before addressing the team.
There is also tension between Scaloni and Messi before the game, according to Rial. The build-up to the match at the Maracanã was marred by police violence against the contingent of Argentine fans who were travelling. Lionel Messi and his teammates approached the scrum and shouted at the Brazilian police as he beat the helpless Argentinian cheers with batons. Messi, in turn, made an executive decision, without consulting Scaloni, and took the Argentine team off the field and into the dressing room, a resolution that Rial said had agitated Scaloni and his team.
Whether or not there is a struggle between Scaloni and Messi, it turns out that Scaloni is getting tired of the spectacle surrounding the Albiceleste, as this is not the first time he has spoken publicly about his struggles as coach of the national team.
The Copa América triumph in 2021 came when South America was still grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic. The tournament was played behind closed doors in Brazil, and the players and the staff from each country were sequestered for the duration of the competition.
Argentina lifted the trophy and then continued their 2022 World Cup qualifying crusade four months later. During a three-game window in October, Argentina earned seven points. They were then seen as real contenders for victory in Qatar, but Scaloni, who lives in Mallorca, Spain, with his wife and two young children, temporarily dampened expectations.
“I just want to go home,” he told reporters. “I haven’t seen my family in a long time. I’m not going through a positive family moment right now for me to be thinking about the World Cup. I want to leave. These months have been really hard and I don’t want to think about anything else. We’ve played these three matches and we’ll see what happens next.”
What followed was an undefeated qualifying cycle that pegged Argentina as favorites in Qatar. But a tumultuous opening loss at the World Cup to Saudi Arabia briefly derailed Argentina’s path. It was a shock defeat and devastating blow. Argentina was on the brink of elimination early on at the tournament. In Argentina, a loss at a World Cup can cripple the country. Meanwhile, Scaloni and the players were also burdened with helping Messi avoid another massive failure at the international level.
This has taken its toll on Scaloni, who freely displays his emotions, as evidenced by the way he cried uncontrollably after Gonzalo Montiel conceded the winning penalty in the World Cup final against France. Late last month, Scaloni was a guest on the “Bobo Vieri Talk Show,” hosted by former Italy striker Christian Vieri and Cristian Brocchi, who played with Scaloni at Lazio from 2008 to 2013. Scaloni spoke about the tension of work in Argentina. He told Vieri and Brocchi that he had a rash on his abdomen a month after the World Cup final due to stress.
As a result, the work has taken its toll – the intellectual and physical tension and anxiety that have long been part of the fabric of Argentine football. For now, he doesn’t even look like a world number one, nor is the education of a World Cup winner Messi enough explanation to continue until 2026.
“These players have given a lot to the coaching staff and I need to think a lot about what I’m going to do,” Scaloni said after last month’s win over Brazil. “It’s not goodbye or anything, but I need to think because the bar is very high and it’s complicated to keep going and it’s complicated to keep winning.”
Brocchi joked on the podcast that he and Scaloni will return to Lazio together to repair the Serie A club. A long career in club football is probably the most for Scaloni. At forty-five years old and with a World Cup trophy in hand, Scaloni will be available if he leaves Argentina next summer. The timing would be ideal for a European club looking for a new coach.
Scaloni has been linked to Real Madrid, currently under the direction of Carlo Ancelotti. The Italian manager is expected to leave the 14-time Champions League winners in time to coach Brazil at the Copa América. That would open the door for Scaloni, who is quite familiar with Spanish football. His time with Deportivo La Coruña, Racing Santander and Mallorca spanned more than 200 matches. Serie A could be another possible destination for Scaloni. He has won everything with Argentina. Club football is the next frontier.
Advertisement
Of course, you can still reconsider your resolution and stay in Argentina. Until Scaloni confirms otherwise, good luck or failure in the Copa America may motivate him to continue or convince him to move on. It’s also not uncommon for a coach to leave a position in the national team after a cycle, especially in Argentina. Scaloni has been the country’s seventh coach since 2010.
If Scaloni leaves earlier than expected, Gallardo, Simeone and Pochettino will back names to watch.
This scenario now makes the upcoming Copa America a crossroads for Argentina. This may be Scaloni and Messi’s last festival with Argentina. On Thursday in Miami, the site of the Copa America draw, all eyes will be on Scaloni. Then, next summer, the pressure will be greater for Argentina to win a second consecutive Copa America as they will play with a big goal on their backs.
For Scaloni, who can’t seem to emotionally detach himself from work in Argentina, retiring from this environment could be just what he wants.
(Photo: Buda Mendes/Getty Images)