Argentina boss lifts the lid on Messi mindset

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner seems to be back in a good place as he returns to Argentina duty.

Lionel Messi has found a new home in Miami, and it seems like he’s finally found the love he deserves. The Argentina coach, Lionel Scaloni, is thrilled to see Messi happy and thriving on the football pitch.

Messi has been on fire since joining Inter Miami CF in the MLS, making 14-goal contributions in 11 appearances (11 goals, 8 assists). His new team hasn’t lost a single game since he arrived. They’ve won the Leagues Cup, reached the US Open Cup final, and climbed off the bottom of the Eastern Conference.

It’s clear that Messi is back to his old self after a difficult two-season spell at Paris Saint-Germain.

“I see him [Messi] as everybody else sees him, happy,” Scaloni said of the Argentina captain on Wednesday.

“He’s found a place where he is loved, and I always say he is happy on a football pitch.”

Will Messi play against Ecuador?

On Thursday, Argentina will begin their defense of their world title. They’ll welcome Ecuador to Buenos Aires in the first game of their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Messi goes into the qualifier with an ample amount of game time under his belt in Miami.

There were suggestions the 36-year-old could’ve done with more rest. But that is irrelevant right now to Scaloni. Messi is available to play, and the plan is for him to play as much as he can. There’s no reason to save him if he’s feeling good and ready to go.

“I see him well,” Scaloni said. “He is available to play, and we are happy to have him, as I always say. The plan is for him to play. If he has nothing, he will play as much as he can.

“We have no other intention. For us, that he is on the field is important. There is no reason to save him if he has no problems.”