Lionel Messi Compares Scaloni’s Argentina to Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona

• Lionel Messi returned to the starting 11 and scored twice to help Argentina beat Peru
• The world champions maintained a perfect start to their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign
• Messi was in awe of his national team and drew comparisons to Pep Guardiola's Barcelona

Lionel Messi is enjoying himself in the Argentina national team and has compared it to one of the greatest club squads in the world in which he played.

Messi returned to the starting 11 after overcoming a spate of fitness issues which has plagued him since the last international break to help the team beat Peru 2-0.

He scored both goals and was denied a third by VAR for offside as the world champions put up a dominant display against their South American counterparts.

Messi compares Argentina to Barcelona

Speaking after the game, as quoted by Diario Ole, the captain expressed joy in the team and admitted they keep getting better with each game.

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“This team is impressive and continues to grow, game after game. It plays better and better. Compare it with Barcelona... Barcelona is the best team in history. It's a lot, right? But I think this team is very close because of what it showed, for having become champion of America, of the world,” he said.

“We have great players, no matter who plays, it is not noticeable because of the very marked style of play, which identifies us a lot.”

Lionel Scaloni has managed 65 games in charge of the national team, won 48, drew 12 and lost five and have lost just once in the last 50 games. He also led the team to three trophies.

Messi's stats under Pep Guardiola

The 36-year-old was at his devastating best under Pep Guardiola during their four years together at the Spanish club. Per Transfermarkt, he scored 211 goals and provided 94 assists in 219 games.

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They won 14 trophies together, including two UEFA Champions League and a sextuple. Messi during this time won four consecutive Ballon d'Or between 2009 and 2012.

Messi's stats under Scaloni

The former Argentina star took over after the disastrous 2018 World Cup campaign, and under him, Messi has scored 41 goals and provided 15 assists in 50 games.

Most importantly, he won international trophies, which has eluded his career, winning the World Cup in Qatar. He has also won two Ballon d'Or in 2019 and 2021 and is expected to win the 2023 award.

Yedlin's verdict on Messi's season

Sports Brief also reported that Inter Miami teammate DeAndre Yedlin rated Messi's first season at the club after their playoff hopes were dashed against Cincinnati.

The American defender acknowledged winning a trophy for the first time in the club's history but admitted it could have ended better and won't see it as a success.