{"id":3163,"date":"2026-06-16T06:04:31","date_gmt":"2026-06-16T06:04:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=3163"},"modified":"2026-06-16T06:04:31","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T06:04:31","slug":"scaloni-the-whole-planet-awaits-messis-200th-cap-as-argentina-opens-world-cup-against-algeria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=3163","title":{"rendered":"Scaloni: \u2018The whole planet\u2019 awaits Messi\u2019s 200th cap as Argentina opens World Cup against Algeria"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) \u2014 Lionel Scaloni tends to be pensive about a lot of things, but especially when the subject turns to another Lionel \u2014 a much more famous one, arguably the most famous athlete in the world, and one the Argentina coach gets to see on a daily basis.<\/p>\n

Read more Iran coach says team ordered out of US right after 2-2 draw with New Zealand in World Cup opener<\/a><\/p>\n

You see, Scaloni has watched Lionel Messi for much of his life. Both hail from the Argentine province of Santa Fe, Scaloni from the small town of Pujato and Messi from the much larger Rosario. Both of their paths passed through Newell\u2019s Old Boys, the historic club that has produced the likes of Maxi Rodriguez, Gabriel Batistuta and the current U.S. coach, Mauricio Pochettino.<\/p>\n

So when Scaloni speaks about Messi\u2019s legacy, it bears listening.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot only the Argentinian population but everybody \u2014 the whole planet \u2014 wants to see him play,\u201d Scaloni explained. \u201cEverybody wants to see him on the pitch, because he has an effect not only on Argentina fans but supporters all over the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

Those supporters will likely get their last chance to see Messi wearing his light blue striped shirt at the World Cup beginning Tuesday night, when the defending champions open their tournament against Algeria at Kansas City\u2019s Arrowhead Stadium.<\/p>\n

Messi had been dealing with a minor hamstring issue in the lead-up to the World Cup, but he\u2019s looked comfortable in the rare chances reporters have witnessed training. And in last week\u2019s final tuneup against Iceland at Auburn\u2019s Jordan-Hare Stadium, he came into the game as a second-half substitute, scored moments later on a penalty kick and played 20 minutes without any problems.<\/p>\n

So barring an unforeseen event, Messi \u2014 who has yet to speak publicly since the national team congregated for the World Cup about two weeks ago \u2014 will earn his 200th cap during its match against Les Fennecs.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s nothing negative to say,\u201d Scaloni said. \u201cHe\u2019s always been there, and he\u2019s essential for us. He\u2019s going to remain that way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Everybody wants to be part of Messi mania<\/h3>\n

Tapash Chakraborty, the 57-year-old owner of an engineering design company, posted up Monday inside a Kansas City bar, hoping to catch a glimpse of an Argentina player at a meet-and-greet held roughly 24 hours before the match.<\/p>\n

He had one in particular he wanted to see.<\/p>\n

\u201cMessi is Messi,\u201d said Chakraborty, who will be in the stands Tuesday. \u201cHe is the god of football.\u201d<\/p>\n

He wasn\u2019t alone, either. The room teemed with Messi shirts, just as the streets have in the early days of the World Cup. His famous No. 10 is ubiquitous, whether it be on his old Barcelona jersey, his current Inter Miami kit or that of the national team.<\/p>\n

Read more Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong becomes 1st MLB player to hit for cycle this season<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re all Messi fans. He\u2019s the best player in the world,\u201d said Michelle Lemmon, who made the 160-mile (257.50-kilometer) drive with her four children from her home in Kirksville, Missouri, to Union Station in Kansas City on Monday to celebrate her 42nd birthday. <\/p>\n

Lemmon, who played college soccer at a Catholic school after captaining the boys\u2019 team at her high school, will be cheering for the U.S. throughout the tournament. But her dream matchup, Lemmon said, would be for the Americans to face Argentina in the final.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s hard. You\u2019ve got to like him,\u201d Lemmon said. \u201cI\u2019m nervous that this might be his last World Cup, so we\u2019re very excited. Honored that they chose Kansas City as their home base. To have the World Cup champions here, you know, from 2022 is amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Messi seeks to join Pele as repeat World Cup champion<\/h3>\n

The list of greatest soccer players in history often begins with Messi and ends with Pele, the Brazilian star who not only took Brazil to World Cup glory but was instrumental in growing the game in the U.S. during his time with the New York Cosmos.<\/p>\n

What would tie the two even tighter? Argentina successfully defending its title.<\/p>\n

Only twice before has a nation been a repeat winner of the World Cup. Italy did it in the 1930s and Brazil did it in 1962, when despite an injury to Pele in the group stage, the Canarinho went on to beat Czechoslovakia in the final in Chile.<\/p>\n

France nearly made it three repeat winners, but Argentina denied that four years ago in a shootout in Qatar.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happened back in Qatar was just amazing. The whole country united,\u201d recalled Messi\u2019s longtime national teammate, Nicolas Otamendi. \u201cWe have that engraved in our minds, and it\u2019s just injected us with the strength to keep trying. There\u2019s no relaxing. We need to keep working with that level of humility that is required in these types of competitions.\u201d<\/p>\n

There are few more humble superstars than Messi, whom Otamendi described as \u201csimple man that just focuses on training.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s also a competitive animal,\u201d Otamendi said. \u201cYou want to be there with him, supporting him, serving him, and laughing our hearts out all the time. As I\u2019ve said, when the ball is rolling, that\u2019s when you need to press, unite and come together as a family on the pitch.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more Cardinals\u2019 Dustin May continues to put health woes behind him with 1-hit shutout against Padres<\/a><\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

Associated Press writer Heather Hollingsworth contributed to this report.<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

AP World Cup: https:\/\/apnews.com\/fifa-world-cup<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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