On Lionel Messi's ill-fated international debut in Budapest in 2005, when he was sent off 45 seconds after coming off the bench, he received only two passes. Both came from Lionel Scaloni. Those two passes were the first contact in a relationship that may culminate in Argentina becoming only the third nation to successfully defend the World Cup.
Early Bond with Messi
Messi has spoken of Scaloni as one of the first members of the squad to truly welcome him. After Messi scored against Serbia and Montenegro in the 2006 World Cup group stage, becoming the youngest player to play for Argentina at the tournament at 18 years and 357 days, the first player to congratulate him in the tunnel was Scaloni. The former West Ham full-back is only nine years Messi's senior but there has been an almost paternal aspect to their relationship ever since.
Accidental Appointment
Scaloni became manager of Argentina after the 2018 World Cup, a tournament that had been a shambles. Jorge Sampaoli had been brought in at great expense from Sevilla, but his hard-pressing game never fit Argentina's lumbering defence. After scraping a draw with Iceland, Argentina were humbled 3-0 by Croatia and made it out of the group via a nervous win against Nigeria. In the last 16 they lost 4-3 to France, a game that was nowhere near as tight as the scoreline suggested.
Sampaoli left the job after the tournament. The Argentinian Football Association (AFA) had no money and the task of leading a side that had not won a senior tournament since 1993 seemed impossible. Scaloni, the under-21 manager who had been an assistant to Sampaoli, was initially asked to see Argentina through six friendlies as the cheapest viable option.
Winning Over Messi
Scaloni kept working with the under-21s while Messi remained silent in Barcelona. Scaloni knew Argentina needed Messi. One of his assistants was Pablo Aimar, Messi's childhood idol. When Scaloni called Messi, he got Aimar to join the call and laid out his vision of a rejuvenated side with Messi at its heart. Messi was won over, perhaps recognising a shared heritage. Scaloni, Aimar, and Walter Samuel were all part of José Pékerman's second Under-20 World Cup-winning team in 1997, and Pékerman's emphasis on developing players as human beings influenced Scaloni's approach.
Building Togetherness
Scaloni's analyst, Matías Manna, has said that one asado (barbecue) can be as valuable as 20 tactical sessions. Especially in major tournaments, togetherness is vital. Argentina have had that; under pressure against Cape Verde, Egypt, and Switzerland, they have found an inner reserve to carry them through. Messi is more of a leader now, drawing attention without resentment from teammates who talk of winning for him. "He has a group of friends by his side," Scaloni said, "people who will give their all for him, who see him as a god, but also as a kid from the barrio."
Calm Under Pressure
In Qatar, Scaloni's most notable attribute was his calmness. "The sun will rise tomorrow," he said after the defeat by Saudi Arabia and the dramatic victory against the Netherlands. His collapse into tears after the winning penalty in the final shootout was poignant. Scaloni has shown more emotion in this tournament, struggling to hold himself together. But if he can do that for two more games, he will become only the second manager after Vittorio Pozzo to win two World Cups. The accidental manager could become the greatest World Cup coach in almost a century.
