Argentina reward World Cup winning coach Lionel Scaloni with contract extension

Just over two months after guiding Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title in Qatar, Lionel Scaloni has been rewarded  with a contract extension by the World Champions.

The 44-year-old was appointed as Coach of the Argentine national team in 2018 and led the country to Copa America success in 2021, ending the countries 28-year wait for international success.

A 7-cap Argentina national team player during his active days, Scaloni earned hero status in Argentina after leading Argentina to the World Cup title in 2022 and has signed a contract extension until 2026, the Argentine Football Federation announced on its Twitter handle.

The successes have quickly wiped memories of initial oppositions to his appointment as manager of the national team on a full-time basis in 2018.

Scaloni is now expected to lead Argentina’s World Cup defence in 2026 but he may have to do that without inspirational skipper Lionel Messi.