An emotional Lionel Scaloni has cast doubt over his future with Argentina and that of Lionel Messi after they were beaten in the World Cup final.
Ferran Torres scored the only goal of a turgid final in New Jersey as Messi and the Albiceleste were denied a second title in as many tournaments.
Argentina were poor on the day, finishing the match without a shot on target and with ten men after Enzo Fernandez was dismissed.
Messi, 39, had a particularly quiet match after producing some heroic moments earlier in what will surely prove to be his final major tournament.
Scaloni hailed him as ‘unbelievable’ in his post-match press conference, though later added he had yet to discuss the forward’s future.
“He is 39 years old, it is unbelievable,” Scaloni said. “It was always crystal clear to me that he would play until he chose to stop and that everyone would support him.
“I hope everyone is proud of him, because he is the best football player ever to set foot on a pitch.”
Growing increasingly emotional, Scaloni said he was unsure whether he would continue in his role as Argentina boss: “I have to be honest and say that I have to take time and think about the future, because I am not sure this can be achieved again.”
Reviewing the match itself, he went on: “I feel sadness but know that we left everything out there. I have a lot of things to say about how we got here, but it’s not worth it.
“I want to thank these guys eternally for giving us another World Cup final and for competing until the end. They were better, that’s the truth.
“But I’ll hold on to an enormous memory of what they have done, of what it’s worth to get this far. We have to give it huge validity because it takes a lot to get here.”
Scaloni’s current contract runs until December, and he suggested he might call time on his eight-year spell with the side when it expires as he questioned whether he would be able to rebuild after this defeat.
“Myself, I’m going to talk to the president. I have a general idea of what I want to do, fulfill the contract and then we’ll see.
“I also feel the need to, I don’t know, just think. I don’t know if we’ll be able to do something as big as this. I am grateful to the president for the opportunity to be in this position.
“Being in the role I am, it is the dream for everyone. We have tried until the very last moment to give our best as a coaching staff to the players and I think it is fair that I can take this time and think about it.
“This role is wonderful, it is a dream. That never in my life I thought that - I don’t know if I can stop crying now.
“So in order to continue, a lot of things are needed. Above all, to reset again and go back to form a group like this. That is unlikely to happen.”
Before leaving the press conference, Scaloni tearfully added: “My soul hurts.”
