David Dóniga: “Messi only wants to win, he is a voracious monster”

After Argentina were forced to cancel its tour of China during the forthcoming FIFA window in March, the Argentine FA (AFA) quickly lined up replacements in the shape of El Salvador and Nigeria with both games set to be staged in the United States. El Salvador, coached by Spaniard David Dóniga have already faced Messi as the opening game in Inter Miami’s globe-trotting preseason tour.

Speaking to DirecTV Sports Radio ahead of the clash in Philadelphia on 22 March, Dóniga, the head of ‘La Selecta’ was very clear about one thing when asked about the Albiceleste captain: “Messi only wants to win, he is a voracious monster. The greatest respect I can have for Messi is by beating him. Our goal is to be competitive and beat Argentina. I have the responsibility of making the El Salvador national team a success.”

Dóniga has a mission: World Cup 2026

The 42-year-old Madrid native took the reigns of the El Salvador national side in January of this year and knows that Argentina will provide a sterner test as opposed to an Inter Miami side who were just kick starting their pre-season activity ‘La Selecta’ will be tested by the likes of: Julián Álvarez, Lautaro Martínez, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister, Cristian ‘Cuti’ Romero, among others.

The key objective for the El Salvador side is to be ready for the qualifying stage of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers with the Central American outfit set to start from the second round and are pitted in Group F. Their first match will be on 6 June against Puerto Rico and then Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on the 9th of the same month.

After facing Argentina in Philadelphia next March, El Salvador will face Honduras at the Banc of California in Los Angeles on Tuesday, 26 March as sights turn to securing a place at the 48 team 2026 World Cup.