Lionel Scaloni
Lionel Scaloni took charge of Argentina in 2018 as a relatively unknown quantity — a former journeyman defender with no prior senior managerial experience — and proceeded to end the country's 28-year major trophy drought. His Argentina won the 2021 Copa América, breaking Lionel Messi's international title curse, then delivered the 2022 World Cup in Qatar in one of the tournament's great finals against France. Tactically flexible, Scaloni has shown willingness to drop established names and build collective defensive solidity without sacrificing attacking threat. His man-management of Messi and the dressing room dynamic has been as important as any tactical innovation.
Rosario, Argentina · 1978-05-16
Profile
Lionel Scaloni is an Argentine who played as a right-back for clubs including Lazio and West Ham but had never managed a top club side before taking the national job in 2018. That inexperience was quickly forgotten: he built a 4-3-3 / 4-2-3-1 system around Messi without making it dependent on him, won the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 Finalissima, and then the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar — Argentina's first world title in 36 years. He is calm, adaptive, and tactically precise.
Career
Argentina2018 – presentTeam identity
Scaloni typically deploys a 4-3-3 that compresses into a 4-2-3-1 in possession. Mac Allister and Enzo Fernández sit as the double pivot, recycling the ball and protecting the defence, while Rodrigo De Paul drives forward as the box-to-box presence. Messi drifts inside from the right, creating space for Nahuel Molina to overlap. The press is selective rather than high-intensity, designed to force turnovers in the middle third.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Argentina's manager at the 2026 World Cup?
Lionel Scaloni is the head coach of Argentina at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
What is Lionel Scaloni's background?
Lionel Scaloni took charge of Argentina in 2018 as a relatively unknown quantity — a former journeyman defender with no prior senior managerial experience — and proceeded to end the country's 28-year major trophy drought. His Argentina won…