Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni has made a surprising statement by setting aside his captain Lionel Messi when naming the current best footballers in the world.

Speaking on Siro Lopez's YouTube channel, Scaloni insisted that Messi remains in a league of his own and is "incomparable" to other players, before proceeding to name those he considers at the top of world football currently.

"I will set Messi aside because he is unique," Scaloni stated. "So I will say Kylian Mbappe, Lamine Yamal, and Julian Alvarez or Lautaro Martinez as well."

The Argentina coach's comments highlight his continued admiration for Messi, who at 37 years old is approaching the final stages of his illustrious career. Despite his age, Messi continues to perform at a high level for Inter Miami, having scored 10 goals and provided three assists in 15 appearances this season.

Messi remains the most decorated footballer in history with 46 trophies to his name and a record eight Ballon d'Or awards. His inclusion in a separate category by Scaloni suggests the coach believes the Argentine icon still stands above even the current generation of elite talent.

It's notable that Scaloni named two Argentine forwards, Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez, among his picks for the world's best players, alongside PSG star Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona's young sensation Lamine Yamal.

Scaloni's comments come as Argentina continues to prepare for life after Messi, with the legendary forward likely in the final phase of his international career despite still being a central figure in their setup.