Emiliano Martínez spoke to the media about the team and Lionel Messi.

Martínez once more was the starting goalkeeper for the World Cup champions and once more did not allow a goal. The Best goalkeeper in the world spoke to the media after Argentina’s 1-0 win vs. Ecuador in the World Cup qualifiers. Here is what he had to say:

“It was beautiful, to be honest. We had to suffer because it is not easy to start a qualifying round against a team like them but the truth is that we ended up very happy.”

When asked about Lionel Messi:

“I would like to ask Messi to never leave, I hope he plays in the 2026 World Cup.”

Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni commented on the team, Lionel Messi being substituted out and Cristian Romero.

Lionel Scaloni has his Argentina team starting off the 2026 World Cup qualifiers with a win and he spoke about it to the media after the match. Here is what he had to say:

“It was unbelievable. I am proud of the game the boys played, with the level of demand that this match had. They played to the limit, as a qualifier. We are tremendously proud of the game they played. They played an incredible game. In many places on the pitch, one on one, we won a lot of duels and the ones we lost, we came back fast.”

Scaloni also commented on Lionel Messi being substituted out:

“He asked me for the change. If not, I wouldn’t take him out. It’s obvious. Later, we will evaluate what he has but he asked for the change.

“I don’t know what he has, honestly. He asked for a change. Tomorrow he will undergo tests. If he is fine, he will come and play. If he’s not fine, we’ll see what we’ll do. We’ll see. It’s all very recent.”

Regarding Cristian Romero:

“Not much can be said about the game he had. He thinks he’s He-Man. He is an incredible central defender. Sometimes, he has to save a few moves. He gets tired and leaves the team in a bad position. But the match he had was incredible. It’s a complete game.”

The match on Thursday against Ecuador also marked five years since Scaloni took over as coach of the Argentina national team:

“When I started, I didn’t think I was going to be around for five years. It seems like it was a short time ago and it was actually five years ago. There were difficult moments. That’s when you realize that time has passed. You get better with experience, you play more games.”

Lionel Messi spoke about the World Cup qualifying win and being substituted out.

Messi scored a free kick for Argentina in the 1-0 win vs. Ecuador in the World Cup qualifiers and spoke in an interview after the match. Here is what he had to say:

“We know that these are difficult matches in the qualifiers. Ecuador has very good players, they know what they are doing and they are very good physically.

“It was a very difficult match, very physical. I was a little tired so I was substituted out but I felt good. “Not long ago we were World champions but it seems like a lot has happened. We have to keep going, competing and qualifying for the next World Cup, going game after game.

“It was shown in the friendlies we played and today for the points that the group is not going to relax. Everyone wants to beat Argentina and now that we are champions, even more so.”

The Argentina starting eleven has been confirmed for their 2026 World Cup qualifying match against Ecuador on Thursday.

Argentina play their first match in the World Cup qualifiers and it’s a similar eleven to the one which started the World Cup final. Coach Lionel Scaloni has made two changes from that final as Nicolás González starts in place of Ángel Di María and Lautaro Martínez for Julián Álvarez. Here is the starting eleven:

Emiliano Martínez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Nicolás Otamendi, Nicolás Tagliafico; Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister, Nicolás González; Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martínez.