Ballon d'Or: Argentina coach omits Messi, names 4 best players in the world

Lionel Messi and Lionel Scaloni share a hug after winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Credit: Imago

Ballon d'Or: Argentina coach omits Messi, names 4 best players in the world

Faruq Ibrahim 17:55 - 13.05.2025

Albiceleste head coach Lionel Scaloni named the four best footballers in the world.

Argentina national team head coach Lionel Scaloni was tasked with naming the best players in the world, and he made an interesting choice of four players. 

The Albiceleste boss leads his country through one of their most successful spells, with eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi as his captain. However, for the purpose of this list, Scalon excluded Messi.

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Scaloni’s list

Whenever Scaloni is asked to name the greatest footballer of all time, he never hesitates before mentioning Messi. However, in a conversation with Siro Lopez on his YouTube channel, he made a list of four without adding Messi.

Scaloni praised his captain for being unique, and as such, opted to leave him out, before making his selection.

“I’ll set Messi aside because he’s unique, Scaloni said. “So I’ll say Kylian Mbappe, Lamine Yamal, and Julian Alvarez or Lautaro Martinez as well.”

Lionel Messi World Cup
Lionel Messi celebrates with the Argentina squad after winning the 2022 World Cup (Credit: Imago)

Scaloni on Yamal and Messi

Meanwhile, Scaloni was also pulled into the comparisons between Messi and Barcelona's young sensation, Lamine Yamal.

There are many similarities between both players: their dominant foot (left), dribbling and playmaking ability, La Masia trained and Barcelona. All of that plus the revelation that Messi bathed Yamal as a toddler has created a narrative surrounding both players, which has unavoidably led to comparisons.

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