What's next for the Albiceleste after World Cup final defeat?

Lionel Messi's Argentina fell agonisingly short of winning a second consecutive World Cup title after Sunday's 1-0 extra-time defeat to Spain in the final. The loss raises questions over the future of the Albiceleste project built around Messi and head coach Lionel Scaloni.

1. Messi's future

Before and during the World Cup, the captain made clear that North America 2026 would be the final chapter of his World Cup story.

Messi bows out at the age of 39 as a bona fide legend, adding yet more weight to the argument that he is the greatest footballer of all time, albeit without a second World Cup crown.

At an age when most players have long since retired, Messi produced performances reminiscent of the dazzling form that made him a global superstar with Barcelona.

Football has seen plenty of players announce their retirement only to return later, but that does not appear likely in Messi's case.

"No, no, definitely not," the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner said before the final when asked about a possible appearance at the 2030 World Cup, where Argentina will host one of the opening matches.

Following the defeat to Spain in East Rutherford, on the outskirts of New York, Messi appears set to close the book on his World Cup career.

What remains unclear is whether stepping away from the tournament also means bringing an immediate end to his international career, having represented Argentina since 2005.

'The best thing about all these years was never just the trophies, but the entire journey. Sharing everyday life with this group, competing together, picking ourselves up in difficult moments and enjoying every step,' Messi wrote on Instagram ahead of the final.

2. Scaloni's future

Scaloni's contract as Argentina head coach expires in December.

According to local media, he has a verbal agreement with the Argentine Football Association (AFA) to extend his deal until the end of 2030, five months after the next World Cup.

'There will almost certainly be a renewal. We are talking with his representative and the idea is to renew the contracts of all Argentina's coaching staffs, across every age group, until 2030,' AFA president Claudio 'Chiqui' Tapia said in December.

Calm, composed and never afraid to show his emotions, Scaloni has overseen a remarkable transformation since taking charge in 2018, initially on an interim basis before being appointed permanently.

Despite having no previous experience as a professional head coach, he inherited a national team that had not won a major trophy since the 1993 Copa América in Ecuador.

'We need to keep our feet on the ground for a while and recognise that Argentina are not currently a world power or capable of competing with the best national teams,' Scaloni said in 2019.

Since that statement, the story has changed completely.

Scaloni rebuilt Argentina by restoring the team's footballing identity, emphasising possession and encouraging the creativity of his most gifted players.

He also succeeded in building a side around his captain while forging a squad with exceptional mental resilience.

That formula delivered victory in every final Argentina contested, with the exception of Sunday's defeat, including the 2022 World Cup, the 2021 and 2024 Copa América titles and the 2022 Finalissima.

Should he remain in charge, his next opportunity for silverware will come at the 2028 Copa América.

3. Rebuilding the squad

Argentina began the defence of their World Cup title with an average squad age of 29.1 years, making them the tournament's 11th-oldest team among the 48 participants.

Of the regular starting XI, five players are unlikely to reach the next World Cup: goalkeeper Emiliano 'Dibu' Martínez (33), left-back Nicolás Tagliafico (33), midfielders Leandro Paredes (32) and Rodrigo De Paul (32), and Messi (39).

'Right now I'm focused on winning. I'm not thinking beyond that,' Martínez, a key figure in Argentina's recent successes, said before the final against Spain.

Defender Nicolás Otamendi (38), who had largely been used from the bench, is retiring from international football after the World Cup.

Other important players, such as midfielder Giovani Lo Celso (30), will also be approaching the twilight of their careers by the next World Cup. The same applies to reserve goalkeepers Juan Musso (32) and Gerónimo Rulli (34).

If Scaloni stays on, he will first have to help the squad recover from the disappointment of defeat before assembling a team capable of thriving without Messi.

Lisandro Martínez, Lautaro Martínez and Cristian Romero (28), Alexis Mac Allister (27), Julián Álvarez (26), and Enzo Fernández and Thiago Almada (25) are expected to form the backbone of Argentina's post-Messi era.

Above all, however, Scaloni will need to develop the next generation, including highly rated youngsters Franco Mastantuono (18), Joaquín Panichelli (23), who did not feature in the United States, and 21-year-olds Nico Paz and Valentín Barco.