New Delhi: Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni likened Lionel Messi to tennis legend Roger Federer because of the joy they bring to their sports.

Messi has said he will reassess his career, including his international future, after the World Cup. That has led to speculation that he may be considering international retirement, and reporters asked Scaloni about the issue.

Scaloni answered the reporters by saying, “What happened when [Federer] retired? Everyone is emotional and everyone is thinking, ‘he’s not here anymore, he’s not going to play anymore’. How many of us would like to see Federer play tennis? It was wonderful to watch him play. And the same thing will happen with [Messi].”

Federer is at a more advanced age than Messi but they have shared dominance over their respective sports for more than a decade. At the 41-year-old’s last match, Federer broke down crying with longtime and fellow country-mate rival Rafael Nadal.

One of the greatest footballers Argentina has produced, Lionel Messi is their highest-ever goalscorer on the international stage. Messi made his international debut against Hungary back in 2005 and since then, he has gone on to score 90 goals.

The 35-year-old’s debut, however, was oddly memorable as he was shown a red card by the referee just a minute after he entered the field as a substitute. After chasing an international trophy with Argentina at the senior level throughout his career, Messi finally won one in the form of the Copa America in July 2021.

While it’s unclear what the future holds for the Argentina icon, for now, he’ll look to continue his great form at Paris Saint-Germain, where he has been involved in 11 goals through eight Ligue 1 matches.

The Argentine forward will be back in action against Nice in Ligue 1 with PSG on October 1.