Lionel Scaloni has by far become the most successful coach in the history of the Argentine national team. In just three years, he has achieved it all. He led the “Albiceleste” to victory in the 2021 Copa América, followed a few months later by the Finalissima, and then to the World Cup for the first time since 1986. But he didn’t stop there; in 2024, he won a second Copa América.

Now, he is with Argentina in yet another World Cup and aims to defend the title they won on the fields of Qatar. In an interview, the 48-year-old moved listeners with his words as he recounted his personal experiences from his childhood.

His father’s sacrifices, his struggle to become a soccer player, and his dream of winning a World Cup—all the way until he achieved that goal as coach of the “Albiceleste.”

“My father would come home after driving a truck loaded with rocks for ten hours, and even so, he’d say to me, ‘Let’s go train. There’s no time to waste.”

I was thirteen years old and lived in Puchato, a village where no one talked about the World Cup. I, however, dreamed of winning one. My “field” was a garage. The jersey I wore was Argentina’s, even though I played for Newell’s.

My father never took a break. He’d drive me to practice, wait for me to finish, and then go back to work. He was even more passionate about soccer than I was.

I made my professional debut at seventeen. At twenty-nine, I played in the World Cup. At forty-four, I won one as a coach.

And on that day, when Montiel scored the penalty kick, I didn’t think about the trophy. I thought of my father, the garage, that kid who hitchhiked to chase his dream.

Ever since we won the World Cup, I don’t remember ever having paid for a single meal in Argentina. People hug me, get emotional, and tell me: “You made us happy.”

And every time I hear those words, I tell myself it was all worth it. Every kilometer, every rock, every training session in the dark,” Scaloni said.

LIONEL SCALONI: “My dad would come home after driving a truck full of rocks for 10 hours, and even then he’d get out and tell me, ‘Let’s go train—there’s no time to waste.’”

I was 13 years old and lived in Pujato, a town where nobody talked about the World Cup, but I dreamed of playing in one. My field was a… pic.twitter.com/3fDKb7JdFD

— Motivaciones Fútbol (@MotivacionesF) July 9, 2026

*photo source: AP