Argentina vs Iceland, FIFA World Cup 2026 warm-up – Player Ratings, Report; Lionel Messi scores

Lionel Messi scored within minutes of returning from injury as Argentina defeated 3-0 in the final 2026 FIFA World Cup warm-up in Auburn, Alabama, on Tuesday.

Messi started on the bench as the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner returned to fitness after leaving Inter Miami’s 6-4 win over Philadelphia with muscle fatigue on May 24.

He was joined on the sidelines at the start by Julian Alvarez, Enzo Fernandez and Alexis Mac Allister as Lionel Scaloni named an experimental line-up in front of a crowd of 88,000.

Messi is about to play in his sixth World Cup and has allayed fears he may not be ready for the start of the tournament in a stunning 20-minute cameo.

Argentina begins its defense of the World Cup against Algeria on June 16 before also facing Austria and Jordan in Group J.

Iceland could only partially avoid a goal mouth in its penalty area early in the first half, and the ball broke to Strasbourg defender Valentin Barco and fired into the bottom corner.

The expectant crowd had to wait until the final quarter before Messi made his appearance.

On his first involvement, Messi’s brilliant pass played into Lautaro Martinez, who was cleared by Elias Olafsson as he put the ball wide. Messi made no mistake in scoring his 117th international goal in his 199th cap.

He was involved again in Argentina’s third goal, when Messi’s pass fed Rodrigo De Paul, who headed in Thiago Almada.

Argentina vs Iceland player ratings:

Argentina: Gerónimo Rulli (7.3/10), Agustín Giay (7.0/10), Nicolás Otamendi (7.1/10), Lisandro Martínez (7.2/10), Facundo Medina (6.8/10), Giovani Lo Celso (6.9/10), Exequiel Palacios (7.0/10), Valentín Barco (8.2/10), Giuliano Simeone (6.6/10), José Manuel López (6.4/10), Nico Paz (7.1/10)

subtitles: Lionel Messi (8.5/10), Lautaro Martínez (7.6/10), Thiago Almada (7.9/10), Rodrigo De Paul (7.2/10), Enzo Fernández (7.0/10), Alexis Mac Allister (6.9/10), Cristian Romero (7.1/10), Nicolás González (6.5/10), Gonzalo Montiel (6.7/10)

Iceland: Elías Rafn Ólafsson (6.0/10), Victor Pálsson (5.8/10), Hörður Björgvin Magnússon (5.9/10), Daníel Leó Grétarsson (6.1/10), Logi Tómasson (6.2/10), Ísak Jóhannesson (5.7/10), Hákon Haraldsson (6.5/10), Andri Baldursson (5.6/10), Mikael Egill Ellertsson (5.9/10), Albert Guðmundsson (6.4/10), Orri Óskarsson (5.8/10)

subtitles: Kristian Hlynsson (6.1/10), Jón Dagur Þorsteinsson (5.7/10), Dagur Dan Þórhallsson (5.9/10), Aron Gunnarsson (5.5/10), Gylfi Sigurðsson (6.0/10), Hjörtur Hermannsson (5.8/10), Kristall Máni Ingason (5.9/10), Arnór Sigurðsson (5.8/10), Gísli Thórdarson (5.7/10), Daniel Gudjohnsen (5.6/10)

(With input from AFP)

Published on June 10, 2026