After Argentina’s team accomplished the extraordinary achievement of defeating Brazil in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday, manager Lionel Scaloni—who led his team to victory in the World Cup—made the startling disclosure that he was thinking of leaving his role.

At his press conference at the Maracana Stadium, where Argentina had defeated their rivals 1-0 to maintain their top spot in the South American qualification rankings for the 2026 World Cup, Scaloni made an unexpected statement regarding his future.

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“Argentina needs a coach who has all the energy possible and who is well.

” I need to stop the ball and start thinking, I have a lot of things to think about during this time,” Scaloni, who took no questions, said in his opening remarks.

“These players have given a lot to the coaching staff and I need to think a lot about what I’m going to do.

“It’s not goodbye or anything, but I need to think because the bar is very high and it’s complicated to keep going and it’s complicated to keep winning.

“These guys are making it difficult, so I need to think about it for a while. I will talk to the FA president and the players afterwards.”

After taking over as manager in 2018, the 45-year-old guided Argentina to their first major trophy since the 1986 World Cup in 2021—the Copa America title—before the Albiceleste won their third world championship in Qatar the previous year.

In 2016, Lionel Messi, his captain, announced his retirement from international competition. He then came back to take on the immense pressure of achievement in a nation where football is practically regarded as a religion.

“We are sure and hope that Scaloni will continue,” Argentina defender Cristian Romero told reporters.

“Let’s see now he will have time to think, he didn’t say anything in the dressing room about it. We will try to convince him.”