Argentina Optimistic Ahead of Messis Upcoming Tests Before World Cup

Argentina Coach Optimistic About Messi’s World Cup Fitness

Lionel Messi suffered an injury during Inter Miami’s MLS game on Sunday, but Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni is confident that his star player will be fit for the upcoming World Cup. According to Inter Miami, Messi was diagnosed with muscle fatigue in his left hamstring after he made an abrupt exit from the 6-4 victory over Philadelphia in the 73rd minute.

Scaloni stated that the initial news regarding Messi’s fitness “is not that bad” and expressed hope that further examinations will confirm the diagnosis. The World Cup is just two weeks away, and Scaloni has been monitoring Messi’s progress closely. He had watched the match on TV at the federation’s headquarters and was relieved that Messi asked to come off.

Inter Miami’s manager Guillermo Hoyos explained that Messi was tired, the pitch was heavy, and no one wanted to take a risk with his fitness. The team’s statement said that the timeline for Messi’s return to physical activity will depend on his clinical and functional progress.

Argentina is set to begin their World Cup campaign on June 16 against Algeria in Kansas City. They then play Austria on June 22 and round off their Group J campaign against Jordan on June 28. Messi has managed his workload since joining Inter Miami in 2023, with team staff regularly excusing him from matches in congested fixture periods.

Argentina will play two pre-World Cup friendlies against Honduras on June 6, and Iceland on June 9, both in the US. The team is expected to name its squad next week, and Messi’s participation in the World Cup remains uncertain.

Source: Al Jazeera