Scaloni Plans for Life Without Messi and Di María Ahead of the 2026 World Cup

As Argentina prepares for the 2026 World Cup, head coach Lionel Scaloni faces one of his biggest challenges yet: filling the void left by legends Lionel Messi and Ángel Di María. While Di María has confirmed his retirement from international football, uncertainty still surrounds Messi’s participation in the next World Cup. Scaloni, however, remains clear—both players are irreplaceable.

Building a New Team for 2026

In a recent interview, Scaloni admitted that finding direct replacements for players of Messi and Di María’s caliber is impossible: “They are unique. There’s no replacing them.” Despite this, the coach is focusing on reshaping the team’s tactics to adapt to a future without these key figures, particularly emphasizing the need to find players who can bring width and creativity to the squad.

A New Approach for Argentina

Scaloni has indicated that Argentina will need to “play differently” as they move forward, highlighting that Di María’s ability to stretch the field and Messi’s one-on-one magic are attributes no player can fully replicate. In recent matches, players like Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez have stepped up in attack, while Nicolás González has taken on the role of wide attacker.

Looking Ahead to the Qualifiers

With the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup underway, Scaloni’s next steps will be crucial in maintaining Argentina’s competitiveness. Although the team is evolving without two of its biggest stars, Scaloni remains confident that a new generation of talent can rise to the challenge and continue Argentina’s success on the global stage.