Football: Scaloni pays tribute to the last match of his "inimitable" maestro Messi.

“He is an unmatched player, and I think there will never be anyone like him on the field again,” Scaloni said at a press conference after Argentina's 3-0 victory over Benin during the jubilee of his talented left-footer.

“I have never witnessed this in anyone in my life. What he exudes, I have not observed in anyone else. We will try to find other solutions, but this feeling will never be present again.”

In his final match with the national team, Messi showcased his usual talent with one goal and two assists, concluding more than twenty years of dedication in the Argentine colors, in front of over 80,000 supporters gathered at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires.

“An eternal gratitude for everything he has given us, for wearing this jersey like no one else. For me, it is a dream to have been his coach. I told him in front of everyone, with the little strength I had to say to him: never in my life did I think I would become the coach of the greatest footballer in history,” Scaloni, the world champion with the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner in 2022, emphasized.

Before the match, “I was sad because an exceptional player is leaving (...) he leaves us an incredible legacy,” the coach continued, shedding tears, especially during the anthem.

“We must now move forward without him. It will be a challenge. He himself stated that what we experienced in recent years was not ordinary. We have the ability to face it.”

“The only way to compensate for (his departure) is to form a great team where everyone contributes.”