Scaloni reveals goosebumps moment as he tells players to take Messi as example after penalty miss heroics

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has offered a revealing glimpse into the reverence his players hold for Lionel Messi, admitting he gets “goosebumps” watching the 39-year-old captain defy logic, age, and even a missed penalty to carry Argentina into the World Cup quarter-finals.

Speaking in the aftermath of Argentina’s dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Egypt in the Round of 16, Scaloni shared a poignant moment from the bench that captured the essence of his captain’s enduring greatness.

‘They Can’t Believe What They’re Seeing’

“I spoke to the guys on the bench, the ones who watch him and can’t believe what they were seeing,” Scaloni revealed in his post-match press conference. “I told them to take him as an example. He’s incredible”.

The Argentine coach was referring to a group of younger squad members who had spent the match watching Messi from the sidelines. Rather than simply observing, Scaloni used the moment as a teaching opportunity – a reminder that football’s greatest gifts are best appreciated not through statistics, but through the relentless will that drives them.

The Miss That Couldn’t Break Him

Messi’s night began in frustration. In the 20th minute, with Argentina trailing 1-0, the captain stepped up to take a penalty. Egyptian goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir – who had studied Messi’s technique meticulously – dived to his left and produced a magnificent save. It was Messi’s first-ever missed penalty in World Cup regulation play.

But Messi did not retreat into himself. He did not drop his shoulders. Instead, the 39-year-old who has won everything there is to win in football did something far more remarkable – he kept asking for the ball.

“Even after missing the penalty, he kept asking for the ball, kept running, and kept trying,” Scaloni said. “It gives me goosebumps”.

A Record-Breaking Response

That refusal to surrender paid off in spectacular fashion. With Argentina trailing 2-0 in the 79th minute, Messi provided a pinpoint cross for Cristian Romero to head home – his record-breaking ninth World Cup assist, surpassing Diego Maradona.

Four minutes later, with the game hanging in the balance, Messi received the ball in the box, shifted onto his favoured left foot, and smashed a rising half-volley into the roof of the net. His 21st World Cup goal – the most in tournament history – was the equaliser that completed his personal redemption.

Enzo Fernández headed home the dramatic winner in the 93rd minute, completing a 14-minute, three-goal turnaround that will be remembered for years to come.

More Than a Player – A Lesson

For Scaloni, the moment was about more than a win. It was about legacy, leadership, and the example Messi sets for every player fortunate enough to share a dressing room with him.

“These are the lessons I want my players to take away,” Scaloni reflected. “Not the goals, not the records – but the willingness to keep fighting when everything is going wrong. That is what makes him the greatest”.

The Numbers Behind the Legend

The Atlanta night added yet another chapter to Messi’s extraordinary World Cup ledger:

· 21 goals – most in World Cup history
· 9 assists – most in World Cup history
· 6 consecutive tournaments with a goal
· 9 consecutive matches with a goal – a World Cup record
· 8 goals in the current tournament – his best return in a single edition

A Quarter-Final Awaits

Argentina now face Switzerland in Kansas City on Sunday, July 12, with a semi-final berth at stake. The Swiss, who are in their first quarter-final in 72 years, will present a formidable challenge.

But on the back of a comeback that once again showcased the indomitable spirit of their captain, Argentina march on. And for Scaloni – a coach who has learned to stop questioning Messi and simply admire him – the message is clear:

“Whatever happens from here, I will never forget this night. Not because of the result, but because I saw my captain – at 39 years old – show a generation of players what it truly means to be a champion”.