Scaloni: I’d never tell Messi not to take a penalty — he decides on the pitch

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni held an extensive press conference ahead of the World Cup 2026 quarterfinal against Switzerland, making it clear that Lionel Messi remains the undisputed leader and penalty taker despite two missed spot kicks in the tournament. “It wouldn’t even cross my mind to walk up to him and tell him not to take one. Let him do what he thinks is right. We have other lads who can strike it well, but if Leo wants to take it, he takes it. If he doesn’t, he’ll decide. On the pitch, he has complete freedom,” Scaloni said. The 39-year-old captain has been drifting to the right flank more often, and Scaloni explained that the team now instinctively adjusts to Messi’s movements. He dismissed any talk of a physical decline, stating: “He covers almost the same distance as always. The difference is that everything he does is now more decisive. As long as he wants to keep playing, he’ll be the best.” Addressing claims of favorable refereeing — notably a disallowed Egypt goal via VAR — Scaloni hit back: “People have been saying that about Argentina since 1986. The officiating has been very clear. Before the tournament, referees explained how they would interpret the rules, and that’s exactly what’s happening. There’s no favoritism. Social media blows everything out of proportion.” Scaloni also opened up about his management philosophy, stressing that human connections matter more than tactics. He recalled playing with now-assistants Pablo Aimar and Walter Samuel at the 1997 U-20 World Cup in Malaysia, and how he was often picked for his ability to build team spirit. “If you think about tactics 24/7, you’ll burn out. Sometimes we cut training short just to sit together, drink mate, and grill asado. You might win or lose a match, but 20 years later you’ll remember that evening around the fire. That’s what makes a real team. When we’re united, we’re unbeatable.” The Argentina vs. Switzerland quarterfinal kicks off on July 12 at 04:00. The winner will face either Norway or England in the semifinals.