Lionel Messi’s fitness is the biggest story five days before the 2026 World Cup kicks off. Inter Miami confirmed the 38-year-old is dealing with muscle fatigue in his left hamstring after being substituted during a match against the Philadelphia Union on May 26.
Argentina’s coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed the injury, revealing Messi sustained a muscle strain in his left hamstring during his final Inter Miami match before joining the national team’s training camp.
Speaking to ESPN, Scaloni said: “Leo is fine. He has trained with the group for some time, which is important. He has not been completely separated from the team and is progressing positively. He might participate in the friendly matches to get some minutes.”
Argentina remain confident he will be fit for their FIFA World Cup opener against Algeria on June 16. That gives the world’s best player just over ten days to prove his body is ready.
Context and Background
This is not the first time Messi has managed his body ahead of a major tournament. The stakes this time are uniquely high. He already registered two assists in a match that saw a league-record eight goals scored in a half, showing what he still brings to a game ahead of an attempt to win back-to-back World Cups with Argentina.
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Messi is unlikely to feature in Argentina’s warm-up matches against Honduras on June 6 and Iceland on June 9. With the captain sidelined for the friendlies, Atletico Madrid forward Thiago Almada or Como 1907 midfielder Nico Paz are expected to fill his spot in the attacking rotation.
The medical plan is deliberate. Messi completed individual exercises under the supervision of the national team’s medical and fitness staff as part of a managed recovery plan designed to bring him to peak condition before the tournament begins.
Reactions and Impact
Argentina’s Football Association moved quickly to calm nerves. The AFA released a statement: “The players who are suffering from niggles and injuries continue to work with the physiotherapy team on specific exercises on the pitch and are making good progress.”
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The Algerian camp, who face Argentina on June 16, are monitoring every update. Scaloni told reporters: “Leo is doing well. Leo trained for a part with the group, which is important. He’s not fully separated. He’s coming along. He may be part of the friendly matches, getting some minutes.”
Messi’s presence in Argentina’s opener reshapes the entire tournament’s early narrative. His absence, or an underprepared start, changes Argentina’s attacking options and gives opponents a clear target to exploit.
What Comes Next
All eyes turn to the MRI scan, which will give Argentina’s medical team the clearest picture of Messi’s recovery timeline. Brazil’s Neymar faces a similar situation, having been ruled out of warm-up games with a calf injury and considered doubtful for Brazil’s World Cup opener on June 13.
For Messi, this World Cup is his last. Winning it would make him the only player in history to lift the trophy twice as captain. The football world will know more after the scan results.
