Messi Injury Update Emerges As Argentina Prepares For 2026 World Cup Opener

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has said Lionel Messi is making steady progress in his recovery from injury and could feature briefly in the team’s friendly matches before the start of their 2026 World Cup campaign.

Messi, who suffered a strain in his left hamstring during Inter Miami’s last match, had initially been expected to sit out Argentina’s friendly against Honduras.

However, Scaloni, speaking on Friday, said the 38-year-old forward had already resumed partial training with the rest of the squad, raising hopes that he could get some minutes before the tournament begins.

“Leo is doing well; he has already trained partly with the group, and he’s no longer completely separated,” Scaloni said to the Press ahead of the friendly match.

“It’s possible he’ll play a few minutes in the friendlies. We’ll see whether that’s tomorrow’s game or the other one.”

Argentina, the defending world champions, will face Honduras in College Station, Texas, on Saturday before taking on Iceland on Tuesday in Auburn, Alabama.

Scaloni added that Messi’s progress had brought relief to the coaching crew.

“He’s much better and that gives us peace of mind,” he said.

The Argentine medical team has been busy in recent days, with several key players working their way back to full fitness ahead of the World Cup opener.

Messi remains the biggest concern, given his influence on the team, but he is not the only player under observation.

Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has also been ruled out of both friendly matches after suffering a fracture in the ring finger of his right hand during the warm-up for the Europa League final.

Scaloni confirmed that Juan Musso, who plays for Atletico Madrid, will start in goal against Honduras at Kyle Field.

The coaching staff, however, expects Martinez to recover in time for Argentina’s opening World Cup fixture against Algeria.

Scaloni will also hand minutes to debutant Santiago Beltran, the young River Plate goalkeeper invited for the friendlies.

Argentina are also dealing with fitness concerns in defence.

Right-backs Nahuel Molina and Gonzalo Montiel are both recovering from muscle tears, forcing the coaching staff to call up Agustin Giay and Nicolas Capaldo as replacements for the friendly matches.

Centre-back Cristian Romero has returned to training with the group after recovering from a knee sprain he sustained in April.

However, the defender is yet to regain match fitness, leaving Scaloni with a decision to make on whether to give him playing time in the friendlies or allow him more days to recover fully.

Another player being closely monitored is Nicolas Paz, who has been training separately after taking a heavy knock to his knee.

He has already been ruled out of the Honduras game and faces a race to be fit for Argentina’s World Cup opener.

Midfielder Leandro Paredes and forward Julian Alvarez also arrived at Argentina’s camp in Kansas with physical issues.

Although both players are said to be improving, Scaloni suggested that Argentina would not take unnecessary risks with any player before the tournament begins.

“The situation is improving,” Scaloni said.

“They’re fine, and we don’t want to risk them in these games, and the idea is surely that the injured players won’t take part in these friendlies.

“In this one against Honduras, definitely not. In the second, there might be a chance that one of them could play.”

The Argentina coach said the coming days would give the technical crew a clearer picture of the squad’s readiness.

Scaloni said, “For now everything is going quite well, and next week we’ll see.”

Naija News reports that Argentina will begin their World Cup campaign on June 16 against Algeria in Kansas City, with the fitness of Messi and several other senior players expected to remain a major talking point in the final days before the match.