"I’ll carry on until December and then I’ll probably call it a day. I need to discuss it with the president, but the idea is to take it easy and have a bit of a break."

In tears and visibly shaken, Lionel Scaloni spoke these words before being forced to leave the press conference, overcome by emotion.

Following the defeat to Spain in the World Cup final, the Argentina manager cast doubt on his future with the Albiceleste.

Argentina did not play well and were completely dominated by the newly crowned champions. Aware of this, following the setback, Scaloni signalled the end of his golden era.

This was Lionel Scaloni’s tenure with the Argentina national team

A glorious era that will go down in history. A glorious era that restored hope to 50 million people. A glorious era that took Argentina to the very top of world football after 36 years.

Scaloni, nominated for the Johan Cruyff Trophy in 2023, took charge of the ‘Albiceleste’ following the disaster at the 2018 World Cup in Russia and, from that point on, built an unforgettable legacy.

A journey that began amid doubts due to his ‘inexperience’ in the role, but which, little by little, won over the hearts of Argentines until reaching the pinnacle of glory at Qatar 2022.

Lionel Scaloni’s record with the Argentina national team:

  • 104 matches

  • 76 wins

  • 18 draws

  • 10 defeats

  • 79% win rate

  • 217 goals scored

  • 57 goals conceded

  • 4 titles

Lionel Scaloni’s titles with the Argentina national team

Since his arrival, Scaloni has spearheaded a revamp of the Argentine squad and devised a playing style centred around their star player, Lionel Messi.

To such an extent that the captain was able to show his best form and lead a team that gave its all for the cause.

The squad embodied the manager’s philosophy to perfection, combining sacrifice and on-pitch performance to help Argentina win titles once again.

With Messi at the helm and Scaloni on the bench, this has been the ‘Albiceleste’s’ journey through the various competitions they have contested along the way:

  • Copa América 2019: Third place

  • Copa América 2021: Champions

  • 2022 World Cup qualifiers: Runners-up

  • 2022 Finalissima: Champions

  • 2022 World Cup: Champions

  • 2024 Copa América: Champions

  • 2026 World Cup Qualifiers: First place

  • 2026 World Cup: Runners-up

To be more precise, during Scaloni’s tenure, Argentina reached five consecutive international finals and only lost the 2026 World Cup final to Spain.

“It hurts. It hurts my soul. I’m sorry…” – Lionel Scaloni

Lionel Scaloni’s 10 defeats with the Argentina national team

After decades in the shadows, Argentina once again became a winning powerhouse that reigned supreme in world football.

And that was down to Lionel Scaloni, no less...

Throughout his tenure with the ‘Albiceleste’, he suffered just 10 defeats, with the latest – against Spain – bringing his time as manager to a definitive end.

  • 0–1 vs Brazil (2018)

  • 1–3 vs. Venezuela (2019)

  • 0–2 vs. Colombia (2019)

  • 0–2 vs Brazil (2019)

  • 1–2 vs. Saudi Arabia (2022)

  • 0–2 v Uruguay (2023)

  • 1–2 vs. Colombia (2024)

  • 1–2 vs. Paraguay (2024)

  • 0–1 vs. Ecuador (2025)

  • 0–1 vs. Spain (2026)

Is the end of an era confirmed?

“I’ll see out my contract, but I also feel the need to reflect, because I no longer know if I’ll be able to achieve something as great as this,” said the manager.

And in the same vein, he delivered a message that sounded like a farewell: “Now we have to reset and rebuild a squad like this one. It’s going to be very difficult. It pains me to the core.”

It will be difficult for the Argentine Football Association (AFA) to convince Scaloni to remain in the role beyond December. The end of an era seems inevitable.

However, the final word has not yet been spoken, and the coming months will be crucial in determining the future of the manager, as well as that of Messi, who will have to decide his future with the ‘Albiceleste’.

What is clear is that Argentina will have to start afresh after five years of consecutive finals and glorious titles that will go down in history.

What will happen from 2027 onwards?