Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has delivered a positive update on Lionel Messi’s fitness, revealing the captain is making strong progress in his recovery and could feature before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Concerns had emerged after Messi suffered a muscle strain while playing for Inter Miami in an MLS victory over Philadelphia Union 10 days ago, casting doubt over his readiness for the tournament.
However, Scaloni has now moved to reassure supporters that the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is on the right track.
The Argentina boss confirmed that Messi has rejoined group training and is no longer working separately from his teammates.
“Leo is doing well, he’s already trained with the group for part of the session, and that’s significant. He’s no longer training separately,” Scaloni said.
“He is improving a lot and could even take part in one of the (warm-up) matches for a few minutes. We’ll see whether it’s this one or the next, but he’s much better and that gives us peace of mind.”
The update is a major boost for Argentina as they prepare to defend the World Cup crown they won in Qatar in 2022.
Argentina will face Honduras in Texas on Saturday before concluding their pre-tournament preparations against Iceland in Alabama next week.
Those matches could provide Messi with valuable minutes before the Albiceleste begin their World Cup campaign.
At 38, the Inter Miami star is preparing to compete in his sixth World Cup, further extending one of the most remarkable international careers in football history.
Scaloni also shared a humorous story about informing Messi that he had been selected for the World Cup squad.
Despite being one of the greatest players in football history and Argentina’s captain, Messi apparently waited for official confirmation like everyone else.
“I sent him a message and he told me he would wait for the squad list to see if he had been called up.
“I told him, ‘You’re called up.’ That’s how it happened.”
The exchange drew smiles from reporters and highlighted the humility that continues to define Messi’s relationship with the national team.
With fitness concerns beginning to ease, Argentina can now focus on building momentum ahead of their title defence.
While Scaloni and his staff are unlikely to take unnecessary risks with their star player, the possibility of seeing Messi in action before the tournament begins will be welcome news for fans across the football world.
For Argentina, the message is clear: their captain is recovering, their confidence remains high, and the road to another World Cup challenge is firmly underway.
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