aArgentina’s recent friendly matches have been a hot topic. Not only because Argentina beat Zambia 5-0 at La Bombonera, and because it was an emotional game, but also because of the coach’s comments after the match.
Coach Lionel Scaloni has set no limits for team captain Lionel Messi and believes it is possible for the Albiceleste captain to reach the historic milestone of 1,000 career goals, but says there is one condition.
Scaloni: “Messi really has a shot at 1,000 career goals”
The match against Zambia was probably Albiceleste’s last match on home soil before the World Cup, but it was also a farewell match for Nicholls Otamendi, who announced his retirement from the Argentina national team after the tournament. This was probably also the last game that Messi played with the team before the biggest tournament in football.
Although he has not yet officially confirmed his participation and says everything will depend on how his body reacts in the coming months, the 38-year-old idol continues to perform at a high level and his recent football milestones bear that out.
Leo scored his 900th goal in the second round of the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 against Nashville SC at Chase Stadium. Although he was eliminated from the competition, this goal made him equal with Cristiano Ronaldo (965 goals) as the only two players in football history to reach this milestone.
With his goal against Zambia, he now has 902 goals and the Albiceleste coach is confident he will reach 1,000 before he retires.
He could reach 1,000 goals, but we’ll have to see how long he continues to play. The important thing is that he has to want to continue. I hope he does because he’s happy on the field and we all want to see him play. He scored over 90 goals in one season. he can do that.
Scaloni’s words come at a time when the Rosario-born player’s future is once again under discussion, especially as the 2026 World Cup looms and he looks ever closer to retirement. Still, Messi continues to perform at the highest level, reinforcing the idea that he still has room to expand on his achievements.
Most of the number 10’s goals came during his time at Barcelona, where he scored 672 goals. He went on to add another 32 goals for Paris Saint-Germain, and has already scored 82 for Inter Miami. He also scored 116 goals for the Argentina national team.
Now, heading into the next tournament to be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11th to July 19th, Argentina will emerge as the defending champions and must defend their title. In Group J, they will face Algeria on Tuesday, June 16th at Kansas City Stadium. They will then face Austria on Monday, June 22nd at Dallas Stadium, and Jordan on Saturday, June 27th.
Meanwhile, Leo has extended his contract with Inter Miami until December 2028, giving fans hope that they will see him play for at least a few more years, extending the timeline for him to reach this legendary milestone.
As of now, Inter Miami will host Austin at the New Stadium on Saturday, June 4th, and in MLS action, they will host RB New York on the 11th. Will he add to his record? At least for Scaloni, the goal is clear. If Messi wants it, the record is no pipe dream.
