Just enjoy Messi, Di Maria while you can: Argentina coach Scaloni

Argentina’s Lionel Messi (left) and Angel Di Maria during a training session in Atlanta, Georgia, on Wednesday. Pic/Getty Images

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has urged his compatriots to not worry about when Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria will hang up their boots and to instead just enjoy watching them in the Copa America. World champions and defending Copa America title holders, Argentina get the 16-team tournament under way against Canada at Mercedes Benz Stadium on Thursday.

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Messi, the eight-times Ballon d'Or winner who turns 37 on Monday, will captain Scaloni's team in what is surely his final edition of the continental championship. And with winger Angel Di Maria, 36, also reaching the final stages of his career, the end of an era is on the horizon for the 15-times Copa winners.

"It doesn't make much sense to think about when they're gone. Let's enjoy them now, we'll see what happens later. Messi is fine, he's happy. I'm with renewed ideas and strength. It's a nice challenge to defend the title," he said. Scaloni said he has a full strength side to pick from for the opening game against Jesse Marsch's Canada.

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