‘Only nostalgia remains now that he won’t be there’ – Scaloni ahead of Messi farewell

Lionel Scaloni has paid an emotional tribute to Lionel Messi ahead of what is set to be his final game for Argentina, describing the captain as an “incredible example” to his team-mates.

Messi is preparing to bring down the curtain on his international career, with Scaloni admitting the overriding feeling around the Argentina camp is now one of nostalgia ahead of the friendly against Benin.

“Only nostalgia remains now that he won’t be there,” Scaloni said.

“He is an incredible example. The first to arrive, the last to leave, how he takes care of himself, how he faces each game.

“You can see he is a phenomenon just by how he plays, but he has things behind him that his teammates see, and he is the best example there can be.”

Scaloni also highlighted the standards Messi has set away from the pitch throughout his time with the national team.

“He has left – or is leaving, because he has one more game – something incomparable,” he added.