2026 World Cup: Scaloni gives update on Messi fitness

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni says captain Lionel Messi is recovering well from a hamstring injury and could feature briefly in upcoming pre-World Cup friendlies, giving fans hope ahead of the tournament opener.

“Leo is doing well, he has already trained partly with the group, he’s no longer completely separated,” Scaloni said. “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.”

Defending champions Argentina face Honduras in College Station, Texas, on Saturday, before taking on Iceland in Auburn, Alabama, on Tuesday. Messi had suffered a strain in his left hamstring during Inter Miami’s last match and had initially been expected to sit out the friendlies.

Scaloni also provided updates on other injured players. Goalkeeper Juan Musso will start against Honduras after first-choice keeper Emiliano Martinez fractured his right-hand ring finger. Center-back Cristian Romero is training but still lacks match fitness, while midfielders Leandro Paredes and Julian Alvarez are recovering and unlikely to play in warm-up games.

“The situation is improving,” Scaloni said. “They’re fine, and we don’t want to risk them in these games… In this one (against Honduras), definitely not. In the second, there might be a chance that one of them could play.”

Argentina will open their World Cup campaign on June 16 against Algeria in Kansas City, with Scaloni’s squad gradually returning to full fitness.

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