{
  "id": 9668591,
  "title": "‘Hard not to cry’: Messi deserves to go out on own terms, says Argentina coach",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/hard-not-to-cry-messi-deserves-to-go-out-on-own-terms-says-argentina",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-25T01:16:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2026/09/25/hard-not-to-cry-messi-deserves-to-go-out-on-own-terms-says-argentina-coach/236406"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "EZEIZA, September 25 — Argentina's coach Lionel Scaloni has expressed that next month's friendly against Benin in Buenos Aires will provide Lionel Messi with the opportunity to bid farewell in the manner he desires. According to Scaloni, \"It will be hard not to cry that day, it’s a privilege to be there.\" The coach, whose team came in second place at the 2026 World Cup, emphasized the significance of the match, stating, \"I did my bit because I want to be there for his farewell and, since I don’t know if I’ll still be here in the future, we did everything possible so he could take part in this match.\"\n\nScaloni further stated that Messi, who has won the Ballon d’Or eight times, deserves another prestigious award. He commented, \"If the award is for the best player,\" when asked if Messi should receive this year's prize. The Argentina coach continues to manage a series of friendlies against Bolivia on September 30 in Cordoba and Burkina Faso in Buenos Aires on October 3, where Messi will also be part of the squad for the third game against Benin on October 6 at the 85,000-capacity Estadio Monumental.\n\nWhile Scaloni declined to discuss his own future as Argentina's coach, with his contract set to conclude at the end of the year, he made it clear that there is no new development. He added, \"As far as I’m concerned, there is nothing new,\" and clarified that he has not yet engaged in talks with Argentine Football Association president Claudio Tapia.",
  "summary": "EZEIZA, Sept 25 — Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said yesterday that next month’s friendly against Benin in...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni opens door to contract extension and preps for Messi farewell",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/argentina-coach-lionel-scaloni-opens-door-to-contract-extension-and",
        "published": "2026-09-24T19:59:25.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Argentina’s coach says Messi deserves to go out on own terms",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/argentinas-coach-says-messi-deserves-to-go-out-on-own-terms",
        "published": "2026-09-24T21:20:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Scaloni says he did his best to convince Messi to return for Argentina farewell",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/scaloni-says-he-did-his-best-to-convince-messi-to-return-for",
        "published": "2026-09-25T03:16:09.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Business Recorder",
        "title": "Scaloni says he did his best to convince Messi to return for Argentina farewell",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/scaloni-says-he-did-his-best-to-convince-messi-to-return-for-9711483",
        "published": "2026-09-25T05:50:46.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}