<p>Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni paid tribute to Lionel Messi on Saturday, praising his team captain and revealing he played in the Copa America win over Brazil with an injury.</p>.<p>"If you knew the way that he played in the Copa America you’d love him even more,” Scaloni told reporters after Argentina’s 1-0 win at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro.</p>.<p>“You can never do without a player like him, even when he is not fully fit like in this game and the previous one.”</p>.<p>Scaloni did not say what the injury was but he showered Messi with praise on a night Argentines took to the streets in huge numbers to celebrate their first international title in 28 years and Messi’s first victory with the national side.</p>.<p>Messi, winner of the FIFA Player of the Year award a record six times, has won every club and individual honour with Barcelona but he had lost all four of his previous finals with Argentina.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/football/lionel-messis-argentina-trophy-odyssey-ends-in-brazil-1007319.html" target="_blank">Lionel Messi's Argentina trophy odyssey ends in Brazil</a></strong></p>.<p>The 34-year old had shown his frustration with the defeats, retiring after losing the 2016 Copa America to Chile only to return to the international fold a few weeks later.</p>.<p>“In the end he did not throw in the towel and he succeeded,” Scaloni said.</p>.<p>“We are talking about the best footballer of all time and everyone knew how important it was for him to win a title with the national team.”</p>.<p>“I have a relationship that is different than the (usual) coach-player relationship,” Scaloni added. “It’s closer. We greet each other, we hug each other, and I am eternally grateful to him and his team mates.”</p>
<p>Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni paid tribute to Lionel Messi on Saturday, praising his team captain and revealing he played in the Copa America win over Brazil with an injury.</p>.<p>"If you knew the way that he played in the Copa America you’d love him even more,” Scaloni told reporters after Argentina’s 1-0 win at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro.</p>.<p>“You can never do without a player like him, even when he is not fully fit like in this game and the previous one.”</p>.<p>Scaloni did not say what the injury was but he showered Messi with praise on a night Argentines took to the streets in huge numbers to celebrate their first international title in 28 years and Messi’s first victory with the national side.</p>.<p>Messi, winner of the FIFA Player of the Year award a record six times, has won every club and individual honour with Barcelona but he had lost all four of his previous finals with Argentina.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/football/lionel-messis-argentina-trophy-odyssey-ends-in-brazil-1007319.html" target="_blank">Lionel Messi's Argentina trophy odyssey ends in Brazil</a></strong></p>.<p>The 34-year old had shown his frustration with the defeats, retiring after losing the 2016 Copa America to Chile only to return to the international fold a few weeks later.</p>.<p>“In the end he did not throw in the towel and he succeeded,” Scaloni said.</p>.<p>“We are talking about the best footballer of all time and everyone knew how important it was for him to win a title with the national team.”</p>.<p>“I have a relationship that is different than the (usual) coach-player relationship,” Scaloni added. “It’s closer. We greet each other, we hug each other, and I am eternally grateful to him and his team mates.”</p>