According to Lionel Scaloni, Head Coach of FIFA World Champion Argentina National Team, kids who want to be professional soccer players as adults should start playing futsal. Scaloni has tremendous coaching credentials, having led Argentina to the Copa America title in 2021 - the Albiceleste's first international trophy since 1993. He then masterminded the South Americans' third FIFA World Cup title with a penalty shoot-out victory over France in the final in Doha, Qatar.  He received the 2022 prize at The Best FIFA Football Awards™ ceremony in Paris, having finished ahead of finalists Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola in the voting.

Invited to the UEFA Futsal Champions League finals draw, held in Palma de Mallorca, Spain this week, he was asked about futsal and how he finds a close connection between futsal and soccer. “Futsal is a wonderful sport. I believe it is directly related to professional soccer, especially the way soccer is played nowadays one-on-one and with more pressure on the goalkeeper”, he said.

Scaloni also added: “If I were a 4, 5, or 6 years old player, I would definitely start playing futsal. Futsal has proved to be essential to improve the game with so much ball touching. I strongly recommend futsal to those soccer players who want to improve their soccer performance and techniques”.

Many world champion midfielders like Lionel Messi have credited futsal for their high-caliber performance in soccer.