Argentina Begins Looking Ahead Without Messi

The echo of that lost final against Spain still lingers, but the Argentine national team is already looking ahead. The first call-ups began arriving in Ezeiza to prepare for the September and October friendlies against Bolivia, Burkina Faso and Benin, and the mood at the Albiceleste training facility mixes two feelings that don't always go together: starting something new and saying goodbye to something enormous.

That's because this list of 28 players put together by Lionel Scaloni is no ordinary call-up. It's the first one after the 2026 North America World Cup, the first without Lionel Messi present as an active player (even though his name still shows up in the squad), and the one that starts to define what the Argentina to come will look like.

Tagliafico: "This Is the Final Stretch"

Several of the called-up players began arriving from Europe, and one of the first to face the microphones was Nicolás Tagliafico. The Lyon fullback, a World Cup champion in Qatar 2022 and runner-up in North America 2026, spoke plainly about Messi's retirement from the national team:

It's always hard when these things happen, but we also have to know that this is reality and sooner or later it was going to happen, since more than 20 years went by with the best player. We have to take it in and work hard for what's coming and keep growing as a national team.Nicolás Tagliafico

Tagliafico also allowed himself to think about what's ahead for the team: "We'll have the same hunger as always. New people will probably keep appearing and the renewal will deepen." And he was just as candid about his own standing with the national team, hinting that the countdown on his own cycle has already begun: "This is the final stretch. I'm trying to enjoy it as much as possible because you never know when it ends, so you have to enjoy it." On the level of the upcoming opponents, he didn't hold back, recalling that "we reached the World Cup final playing against this kind of opponent," as if to head off any underestimation.

Medina's Sadness

Another 2026 runner-up who addressed the topic was Facundo Medina, who left Olympique de Marseille to join Bayer Leverkusen. The defender didn't hide what he felt when Messi made his announcement:

It hit me like a bomb. I'm sad. He gave us so much joy, he gave us everything. He leaves so much behind, he's an example for everyone and we have to learn from his greatness. We have to respect his decision, send him off the best way possible, and let him and his family enjoy it.Facundo Medina

Medina also spoke about his current form: "I'm doing my best at my new club to be part of the national team for as long as I can." And on the lost final against Spain, he preferred to look forward: "The mourning is over. Everyone processed it in their own way. In soccer you win and you lose, and you have to learn from that."

The Palmeiras Pair, First to Arrive in Ezeiza

The first to set foot in Ezeiza were two Palmeiras players: José "Flaco" López and Agustín Giay. The forward spoke about the World Cup final with pride: "I think we represented the country until the end and people felt connected to the team." He also said that Messi's farewell stirred up mixed feelings, sadness and happiness at the same time, since it happened "in a special game, a unique moment for our country and our soccer." For his part, Giay, who came up through San Lorenzo before moving abroad, simply seemed happy to have another chance to wear the Albiceleste jersey.

The list Scaloni put together blends experienced names like Lisandro Martínez, Cristian Romero, Enzo Fernández, Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez with faces that are starting to break through, like Franco Mastantuono, Nicolás Paz and Gianluca Prestianni. The new cycle has already begun, and these friendlies against Bolivia, Burkina Faso and Benin will be the first glimpse of where this Messi-less Argentina is headed.