Lionel Messi’s admiration for Pablo Aimar dates back to his youth at Newell’s Old Boys. Witnessing Aimar’s brilliance in River Plate’s iconic No. 10 jersey inspired Messi to aspire to a similar path. Fast forward 25 years, and the two football icons are still on a quest for major accolades side by side.
Currently serving as Lionel Scaloni’s assistant for Argentina, Aimar holds a special position within the national team setup. Apart from being Messi’s childhood idol, he has closely observed the captain’s remarkable journey since joining the coaching staff in 2018.
Reflecting on Messi’s impact, Aimar remarked, “Messi has made us anticipate the unexpected.” Aged 46, Aimar forms a key part of Scaloni’s coaching team alongside ex-Argentina stars Walter Samuel and Roberto Ayala. Leveraging his experience from River Plate and Valencia, Aimar offers valuable technical insights and acts as a crucial bridge between players and coaches.
Expressing his pride in being Messi’s idol, Aimar shared, “It’s incredibly gratifying to hear Messi speak highly of me, akin to how Zinedine Zidane once praised Enzo Francescoli.” Their relationship evolved from teammates at the 2006 World Cup and the 2007 Copa América to opponents when Aimar represented Valencia and Messi soared at Barcelona.
Under Scaloni’s guidance, Argentina broke a 28-year trophy drought by clinching the Copa América in 2021. Riding on this success, the Albiceleste, spearheaded by Messi, have sustained their winning momentum.
Aimar acknowledged the difficulty in emulating Messi’s consistency under pressure, emphasizing the significance of commitment and a winning mindset within the national team. Argentina kicked off their World Cup campaign impressively with a Messi hat-trick in a 3-0 victory, setting a positive tone for upcoming matches against Austria and Jordan.
Looking forward, Aimar emphasized the importance of relishing the footballing journey alongside competing. He stressed the value of creating a positive team atmosphere, highlighting that success on the field is complemented by enjoying the shared experiences that football offers.