Update on Lionel Messi’s Condition
Lionel Scaloni, the head coach of Argentina’s national football team, provided an update on Lionel Messi’s condition, revealing that the star forward is recovering well from muscle fatigue in his left hamstring as the team gears up for their World Cup opener on June 16. Messi, 38, sustained this injury during his last appearance with Inter Miami on May 25 before returning to represent Argentina.
“Leo is progressing positively,” Scaloni commented on Friday. “He participated in part of the training session with the group, which is crucial. He’s not entirely out; he’s making strides forward. There’s a chance he could take part in the upcoming friendly matches, possibly getting some playing time either tomorrow or in the subsequent game. It’s encouraging to see him improve, which brings us a level of comfort.”
Upcoming Matches and Player Status
Argentina is set to play against Honduras on Saturday at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas, as part of their final preparations leading to the World Cup. Following this matchup, they will face Iceland in Auburn, Alabama, on Tuesday to complete their training schedule.
While Messi shows signs of recovery, several players including Leandro Paredes, Nahuel Molina, Nico Paz, and Gonzalo Montiel remain sidelined and are currently engaging in separate rehabilitation sessions due to various injuries. Scaloni noted,
“The players working separately are on the mend. When we put together the squad list, we were aware of their situations. They’re improving, but we want to avoid any risk by allowing them to participate in these friendlies. The plan is to keep them out of tomorrow’s match, and we might consider including one or two in the next match, depending on how they progress.”
Squad Adjustments and World Cup Preparation
Scaloni also assured that should any players not be fit for the World Cup, they would not hesitate to make changes to the squad of 26.
“That’s a possibility. Currently, our players are doing well, but we are clear about our stance: if someone is not fit, we’ll replace them. For now, their conditions are stable, but we are continuously assessing their progress. As we approach the critical final week, we’ll need to determine who is at 100%, though it will be difficult if we have to make cuts.”
Argentina begins its title defense against Algeria on June 16 in Kansas City and will also face Austria and Jordan in Group J as they pursue their second consecutive World Cup championship.
