There has been speculation regarding Messi’s international future since Argentina were dumped out of the World Cup.The South American nation scraped through the group stages before being dispatched by eventual winners France in the last-16.
Messi netted just once in Russia as Argentina suffered World Cup heartache again having been runners-up four years ago.
They also finished second at the Copa America in 2015 and 2016 meaning Messi’s only international trophy is a gold medal from the 2008 Olympics.
The 31-year-old is yet to discuss his international future having previously hung up his Argentina boots in June 2016.
He returned just months later but could now be set to stick to club football at the age of 31. Argentina face Guatemala and Colombia in friendlies next month with a squad needing to be named by August 19.
And Scaloni, who is filling in following the departure of Jorge Sampaoli, has admitted he’s still in limbo regarding Messi.
“We don’t have the squad list made, not even a small percentage of it,” Scaloni said. “I don’t think this is the time to call Lionel [Messi].
“Once we have to name the squad, we will see what we do. I honestly know him [Messi] well and I’m not worried about having to talk to him.
“We want to treat him in a way that he truly knows that there is a respect there and that we are most certainly going to treat him as he deserves. That is the most important thing of all.”
Argentina strongly relied on Messi in order to qualify for the World Cup with the Barcelona man netting seven goals in the qualifiers.
Angel Di Maria, Gabriel Mercado and Lucas Pratto were next for Argentina with two apiece showing the dependence on Messi.
And former Argentina midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron believes the South Americans need to stop relying on Messi.
“It’s time to build a group,” Veron told ESPN Argentina.
“Obviously, if Leo is eager [to be part of the national team], they would need to involve him little by little.
“I think we have to prepare the base and once and for all think about a team and not think about someone who can save us.
“Even more at this time, watching other national teams and how they faced the World Cup, it seems essential to thin
Argentina cannot continue to rely on Lionel Messi for inspiration, says Juan Sebastian Veron, with a nation in transition needing to move away from being a one-man team.
While the Albiceleste have plenty of star quality at their disposal, with leading lights representing top teams around the world, they have struggled to find a winning formula of late.
Struggles at World Cup 2018 highlighted those flaws, with a disappointing last-16 exit made in Russia.
k about a group.”
Too much emphasis has been placed on the ability of Messi to dig his country out of various holes, with Argentina now being urged to offer greater support to the Barcelona talisman as they welcome in a new era.
Former Manchester United and Inter star Veron told ESPN Argentina after seeing Pablo Aimar and Lionel Scaloni appointed as interim successors to ousted coach Jorge Sampaoli: “It’s time to build a group.
“Obviously, if Leo is eager [to be part of the national team], they would need to involve him little by little.
“I think we have to prepare the base and once and for all think about a team and not think about someone who can save us.
“Even more at this time, watching other national teams and how they faced the World Cup, it seems essential to think about a group.”
Messi is yet to state in public whether he will be continuing his international career towards World Cup 2022 – by which time he will be 35 years of age – but former team-mate Carlos Tevez believes a five-time Ballon d’Or will be looking to add to his haul of 128 caps.