Argentina coach Scaloni discusses stopping Lamine Yamal ahead of World Cup final

By Rohan Gupta — 18 July 2026 — 3 min read

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has addressed the challenge of facing Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup final. Scaloni humorously suggested that the only way to stop the young player would be to keep him off the pitch.

The highly anticipated final will see Spain and Argentina compete for international football’s top prize. Much of the pre-match discussion has focused on Yamal, who has delivered standout performances throughout the tournament.

Scaloni, speaking ahead of the final, acknowledged Yamal’s significant impact despite his youth. He initially joked about the difficulty of containing the Barcelona attacker, stating, “How to stop Yamal? I wish we could lock Lamine in his room.”

Scaloni’s assessment of Yamal and Spain

Following his light-hearted remark, Scaloni offered a more serious assessment of Yamal’s talent and rapid ascent in football. He described Yamal as “a fantastic player, a treasure for football,” adding that the teenager is still very young and has much more to offer the game.

Yamal has emerged as a key player for Spain, earning commendation from both opponents and teammates for his decisive contributions. His performances have made him a central figure in the lead-up to the final.

Scaloni also extended his respect to the entire Spanish squad, not just individual players. He explained that his coaching staff has dedicated months to analysing Luis de la Fuente‘s side, anticipating a potential encounter in the later stages of the tournament.

While Yamal has garnered considerable attention, Scaloni emphasised that Argentina is preparing to face a complete Spanish team. He noted that “everything about Spain worries me,” and jokingly added, “We’ll try to get the coach to leave the hotel.”

The reigning World Cup champions have closely monitored Spain’s progress throughout the competition. They anticipate a formidable challenge from De la Fuente’s team, whose possession-based style of play has been instrumental in Spain reaching another major final.

Scaloni confirmed that Argentina had been analysing Spain as a potential World Cup opponent since December, alongside other teams. He mentioned that they had considered various scenarios, but also cautioned against over-analysing. The Argentina coach stated, “We know how they play.”

Comments on Messi’s future and earlier remarks

The Argentina coach was also questioned about Lionel Messi and whether the final might mark the legendary forward’s last appearance at a World Cup. Scaloni admitted he was uncertain about Messi’s future, stating, “I don’t know, what do I know? I haven’t got a clue. Because he never ceases to surprise us. That’s a question for him; I haven’t discussed it with him.”

Earlier in the tournament, Scaloni had responded to comments made by Yamal regarding the strength of teams in the World Cup. Yamal had referred to Spain and France as “the two best teams at the World Cup,” excluding Argentina from his assessment, and described their semifinal match as an early final.

Scaloni, rather than creating controversy, agreed with Yamal’s perspective. He stated, “I agree with him. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with what he said (Lamine) because, of course, that match is an early final.”

The Argentina coach further elaborated that Spain and France were considered among the favourites even before the World Cup began. He acknowledged Spain’s deserved victory over Belgium and France’s strong performance against Morocco, noting that only one of them could advance to the final.

These comments were made as Scaloni prepared his team, still led by Messi, for a crucial quarterfinal match against Switzerland, with a spot in the World Cup semifinals at stake.

Source: barcauniversal.com

Rohan Gupta

Sports Reporter