Argentina sweated over the fitness of its captain when Lionel Messi limped off the pitch during an Inter Miami match weeks before the World Cup.
The 38-year-old, who led the Albiceleste to their third World Cup, is expected to play in his sixth edition of the quadrennial showpiece but the injury cast doubt on his plans.
“After undergoing further medical tests this Monday, the initial diagnosis indicates a strain associated with muscle fatigue in his left hamstring,” his club Inter Miami said in a statement. “The timeline for his return to physical activity will depend on his clinical and functional progress.”
Now Lionel Scaloni, the Argentina coach, has released his assessment of the injury.
What did Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni say about Messi’s injury?
“The initial news is not too bad,” Scaloni said in an interview on Tuesday DSports. “Of course we would have preferred that nothing had happened, but now we have to wait and see how he develops.”
“Most of the players who had problems have not yet fully recovered and our aim is for everyone to arrive in the best possible condition,” the coach said.
When will Messi be in action next?
Club football for Lionel Messi before the World Cup is done and dusted. Hello club Inter Miami will be back in action on July 23.
Messi is expected to participate in Argentina’s training camp in Buenos Aires, Argentina. But it remains doubtful whether he will actively participate in the camp as he is already recovering from a hamstring injury.
Who will play Argentina in FIFA World Cup 2026?
Argentina has been placed in Group J at the 2026 World Cup, alongside Austria, Algeria and Jordan. The country will start its campaign against Algeria on June 16, before facing Austria five days later and Jordan on June 27.
Published on May 27, 2026
