BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) 鈥� Argentina is proving it can win without Lionel Messi, just in case he opts not to play in the 2026 World Cup.
After in next year's competition, the main question now is whether the 37-year-old star will play in his sixth tournament and try to win back-to-back championships.
鈥淲e will see what happens, there鈥檚 plenty of time," Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said. "We must go one game a time otherwise (we) will be speaking about the same thing the rest of the year and we need to leave him alone, we will see. He will decide it whenever he wants, let鈥檚 not drive him crazy with this.鈥�
On Tuesday, hours after Argentina qualified for the next World Cup, it went out and handed Brazil its worst-ever loss World Cup qualifying 鈥� a 4-1 thrashing. That was days after Argentina's 1-0 victory at Uruguay.
Both victories came without Messi. The eight-time Ballon d鈥橭r winner had been ruled out after sustaining a low-grade .
Messi, who captained Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title in Qatar, has been sidelined several times by Inter Miami this season because of injury concerns.
His Argentina teammates left no doubt about their hopes for Messi to return.
鈥淲ith Messi we might have scored two or three more goals,鈥� said striker Juli谩n 脕lvarez, who scored one goal against Brazil.
Bolivia鈥檚 failure to beat Uruguay on Tuesday assured Argentina 鈥� which leads the South American qualifiers with 31 points 鈥� of one of the continent鈥檚 six direct spots for the 48-team World Cup to be co-hosted next year by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
After Tuesday's big win at Monumental de Nunez Stadium, midfielder Rodrigo de Paul seemed to speak for the whole country.
"The best of our teams is always when the No. 10 is playing," De Paul said, 鈥渂ecause he is the greatest of all time.鈥�
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AP soccer:
D茅bora Rey, The Associated Press
