00:00With the urgency to deliver World Cup glory to Messi now over,
00:04Argentina have continued to evolve under the leadership of Lionel Scaloni.
00:11It's important because almost everything goes through him.
00:14The team's attacking play, whether he finishes it or another teammate does,
00:19in almost every scoring opportunity, he's usually involved.
00:22But the team's style of play is always the same, whether he's on the field or not,
00:27though we obviously prefer that he's there.
00:30Still, our idea, our footballing concept, doesn't change depending on who is on the field.
00:36We already have a way of playing, and despite any absences,
00:40I think we always try, with some variations, to play the same way.
00:47Messi remains a major component of Scaloni's plans,
00:50but the strategy is no longer to find the superstar at all costs.
00:56Instead, Lotharo Martinez has become the primary source of goals,
01:01and there are other wellsprings of creativity,
01:04especially from English Premier League stars Alexis McAllister and Enzo Fernandes.
01:14Of the team that fought their way to victory in Qatar,
01:18only Angel Di Maria has retired from the international scene.
01:22But with the likes of Franco Mastantuono and Giuliano Simeone coming through the ranks,
01:28the future remains bright in sky blue and white.
01:40Miliano Martinez has become a cult hero in Argentina
01:43following his Golden Glove winning exploits in Qatar.
01:46A penalty-saving expert, his performance secured his side the World Cup
01:51in their final shootout against France,
01:54after already repelling the Netherlands in the quarter-finals.
02:05Argentina's first choice back four for the 2026 World Cup
02:09is likely to be the same that started the 2022 final.
02:15The anchor is veteran Nicola Ottomendi,
02:19who has formed a commanding partnership with Cristiano Romero.
02:24Outside them, Nicola Tagliafico and Njuel Molina
02:28continue to excel at the highest level.
02:37Scaloni has a wealth of central midfield options.
02:41Rodrigo de Paul, Giovanni Lo Celso and Ezequiel Palacios
02:47are all likely to feature in the extended squad,
02:50as may rising star Mastantuono.
02:56But it will be difficult to keep out 2022 heroes
03:00Alexis McAllister and Enzo Fernandes,
03:03while Leandro Paredes has forced his way back into the reckoning
03:08following his return to Boca Juniors from Europe.
03:14The variety at Scaloni's disposal
03:17allows Argentina enormous structural flexibility,
03:20with a central midfield three adjustable
03:22depending on the opponent and the match situation.
03:36Lionel Messi remains the biggest drawcard in world football,
03:40even if he now covers the least amount of ground
03:42of any outfield player on the pitch.
03:46Argentina have adapted to their captain's
03:48declining physical prowess.
03:50Accepting what he offers in attack
03:52is a worthy sacrifice.
03:56He was his country's leading scorer in qualifying,
04:00during which he broke a new international record
04:03for assists.
04:06In 2026, he captains his all-conquering Albi Celeste
04:10in his new backyard, the United States,
04:14after mesmerising Major League Soccer since 2023.
04:20MVP! MVP!
04:22MVP!
04:24On behalf of our entire league,
04:27all of our country,
04:29and everybody that loves the game,
04:31here and throughout the world,
04:33we're honoured to have you in our league.
04:38Messi already holds the record for appearing
04:40in the most World Cup matches,
04:42with 26.
04:44And in North America,
04:45he will become the first to feature
04:47in six separate tournaments.
04:51Messi will continue to dominate the headlines
04:53for Argentina,
04:54but the men around him are rising
04:56to the challenge of coping
04:58without their long-standing talisman.
05:03Otaro Martinez won the 2024 Copa America Golden Boot,
05:07the same year he was named
05:09the Footballer of the Season in Serie A.
05:13Well, Julian Alvarez has flourished
05:15since leaving Manchester City,
05:17being named in the 2024-25 La Liga Team of the Season.
05:26I felt like I needed a change
05:28in my professional career,
05:32a new challenge.
05:36And I think this is a club
05:38where I can get the tools and the space
05:40to become the best version of myself
05:42as a football player.
05:47No nation has defended the World Cup
05:49since Brazil in 1962,
05:52so history would indicate Argentina
05:54are unlikely to go back-to-back
05:56in North America.
05:59However,
06:01boasting a squad full of experience,
06:03grimful of confidence
06:04after their qualification crews
06:06and the genius of Messi,
06:09the Albi Celeste are as well-placed
06:11as any returning champion
06:12in recent decades
06:14to set a new milestone.
06:16and I'll see you in the future.
06:16...
06:17...
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