Analysis: Argentina’s challenge for the fourth is to plug hole opened by Messi

Argentina, three-time world soccer champion, has plenty of reason to celebrate for several days.

Winning a World Cup came after an “interminable” wait of 36 and a half years.

It came after a campaign that began tragically, with an unimpressive defeat by Saudi Arabia, which made the Qatar Cup an immediate knockout for the team.

It came after matches in which the victory was in hand, building a 2-0 lead and allowing the opponent to react, such as Holland in the quarterfinals and France in the final, having to decide their luck on penalties.

But, primarily, it came after outstanding, memorable performances by its main player, Lionel Messi, owner of seven Golden Balls, six times elected the best in the world by FIFA, the best player of this century – Cristiano Ronaldo was left behind.

A player who, aged 35, has decided that he will not extend his career in the national team until the next World Cup, which will take place in three countries (USA, Canada and Mexico) in 2026.

Then, after the party is over, a whole country, including Lionel Scaloni, Argentina’s competent coach (including for having been the only one who led Messi to titles with the senior team, Copa America and World Cup), will ask themselves: ” And now? How will we do without Messi to win the fourth?”.

The situation is not encouraging and tends towards orphanhood.

Even though it took a long time to triumph with its greatest idol since Maradona left the national team in 1994 –in fact, he was dropped due to a doping case–, Argentina began to live a “messidependence”.

The athlete born in Rosário is the one who most often wore the shirt of the alviceleste selection (172) and its highest scorer (98 goals).

For almost 15 years, Argentines are used to having Messi and ten more in the team. These ten invariably look for him, give him the ball, because he solves it. And when he doesn’t solve it, he gives it to someone else on a platter – sugary passes in the goalmouth.

There will be abstinence crisis. There is currently, neither close nor far, anyone who can minimally fill the gap that will be opened by Messi.

The number 10 warned after winning in Qatar that he intends to remain wearing the national team’s shirt for a while – perhaps saying goodbye at the 2024 Copa América. That is the time that Scaloni and his staff have to forge a credible alternative.

Today there is not. Messi never had a reserve in the national team. He played, plays and will play (if he wants to) always.

Paulo Dybala. Lautaro Martinez. Angel Correa. All of them were in this World Cup. They barely played, and Lautaro became famous for missing goals. Can you be optimistic with one of them in Messi’s place?

In the current scenario, for Argentina fans it is a case of hoping that the idol changes his mind and decides to postpone the national team’s retirement until after the North American World Cup.

Even at the age of 39, a fit Messi, with his genius, is capable of shining in another Cup.