Argentina coach Scaloni admits he pushed Messi hard to accept farewell match

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/messi-lionel/vgOOdZbd/"]Messi[/a] ‌announced his retirement from international football in August, ‌just over a month after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/argentina/f9OppQjp/"]Argentina[/a] were beaten 1-0 ‌by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/spain/bLyo6mco/"]Spain[/a] in the World Cup final.[/p][p]However, the former [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/barcelona/SKbpVP5K/"]‌Barcelona[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/psg/CjhkPw0k/"]PSG[/a] forward was called up weeks later by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/scaloni-lionel/A1A2ibcF/"]Scaloni[/a] to make a final appearance in a ‌home friendly against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/benin/tKuIoRxU/"]Benin[/a] at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/argentina-f9OppQjp/benin-tKuIoRxU/?mid=E5j2p2At"]Buenos Aires' ⁠Monumental Stadium on October ‌6[/a].[/p][p][b]"I believe that a player like him deserves this. Personally, ​I did my part because I wanted to be at his farewell,"[/b] Scaloni told reporters on ​Thursday.[/p][p]"Since I don't know if I would be here later, we pushed hard so that he could be ⁠in this match. ​We knew everything he was going through and even so, he put in the desire and effort to want to come and be able to say goodbye with ‌his people, with the people who love him so much.[/p][p][b]"If we have to pay tribute, we have to do it at this moment. With him, it will never stop, but later, the magic might not be the same."[/b][/p][image alt="Messi's Argentina stats" id="055046f7-c44a-4dcd-a325-621bde109b7f" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="981a6eb8-7970-45f9-a188-fd904fb8002d" original-width="2160" original-height="2700" /][p]Scaloni, who guided Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title and two Copa America triumphs, will be out of his contract in December.[/p][p]Asked if he ‌had received an update on his future, Scaloni said ​he would meet with Argentine Football Association president Claudio ‌Tapia in the coming days.[/p][p][b]"It is a dream come true, but that doesn't mean I have to cling to the job forever,"[/b] the 48-year-old said.[/p][p]"There are certain conditions we need to discuss with ⁠the president and we'll ⁠see if we can ‌reach an agreement."[/p]