Enzo Fernandez urges Lionel Scaloni to stay as Argentina prepare for life after Messi

Midfielder Enzo Fernandez has publicly campaigned for head coach Lionel Scaloni to remain with the national team. Speaking after Argentina's dominant 7-0 victory over Burkina Faso at the Estadio Monumental, Fernandez emphasised that the team's recent sustained success is built upon the foundation laid by the tactician.

It would be very important for us that Lionel [Scaloni] stays; he built all of this. We have to keep competing at the highest level. Enzo Fernandez

Fernandez views Scaloni as a vital figure to guide the squad through a complex generational transition following the departure of Lionel Messi. The midfielder insisted that the team must now process the reality of their captain leaving the international stage while maintaining the path established by the coaching staff.

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) is actively working to secure the manager's future, having tabled a contract extension proposal that would run through the 2028 Copa America, with an option to extend until the 2030 World Cup. Negotiations between AFA President Claudio Tapia and the coach's representatives are ongoing.

The team is also undergoing a leadership reshuffle, with Cristian Romero recently appointed as the new captain. Argentina is now finalising preparations for a friendly against Benin, which will serve as Messi's official international farewell. The outcome of the ongoing contract negotiations will be crucial in defining the team's tactical continuity beyond Scaloni's current contract, which expires in December 2026.