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World Cup: Scaloni hails Messi’s mentality, says the record-breaker never plays for statistics
28th June, 2026 02:24 PM
Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni has praised Argentina’s talisman, Lionel Messi’s mentality, after the Argentine maestro came off the bench to make another scoring milestone in the 2026 World Cup final group match vs Jordan
Messi came off the bench to score his tournament-leading sixth goal as the defending champion beat Jordan 3-1 on Sunday, June 28, 2026, completing a perfect Group J campaign at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Messi added to his record and choice to start him from the bench as he extended his World Cup scoring record, a selfless act that proves just where his main focus lies.
Thinks about his teammates
“Messi could have played 90 minutes and, without taking anything from the opposition, perhaps added to the legend, but he preferred to give his other teammates a chance at playing time. He chose to think about them and what comes next, and that says a lot about him,” he said.
The former Barcelona star has now scored six goals in three matches, moving clear at the top of the tournament’s Golden Boot race. The 39-year-old also extended his lead in the all-time World Cup scoring list with 19 goals in his first match after breaking Miroslav Klose’s 16-goal tally in their second group match against Austria.
The victory marked Argentina’s first perfect group-stage campaign at a World Cup since 2014 in Brazil, and despite the new feat, Scaloni insists Messi plays for much more than the accolades coming his way
“He does not dwell much on the statistic that people talk about. Apart from that, he still surprises me. There are no words to describe him,” he explained.
Argentina will next face Cape Verde in the round of 32 on July 3, 2026. and Scaloni believes the African debutants will pose a threat to the cup holders.
“Cape Verde is a good team; they are a tough rival, and they are going to make things difficult for us,” he opined.
The former Argentine international previously guided the Albiceleste team to the 2022 global title in Qatar following a thrilling, historic penalty shootout victory over France.
He now seeks to join the company of a few tacticians who have won the world crown twice.
