As the 2026 World Cup approaches, Argentina's head coach Lionel Scaloni has addressed concerns regarding Lionel Messi's recent injury. Following Messi's abrupt departure from Inter Miami's match against the Philadelphia Union, there was significant worry about his fitness just 15 days before the tournament begins. However, Scaloni has expressed optimism, stating that the initial medical reports are “not that bad.”

Messi's Injury Update

Inter Miami's medical team confirmed that Messi is suffering from a muscle overload, which has alleviated fears of a severe injury. This update has brought relief to both fans and the Argentina national team, although questions remain about Messi's participation in upcoming pre-World Cup friendlies and their first match against Algeria on June 16.

Scaloni's Observations

In a conversation with Argentine outlet DSports, Scaloni recounted witnessing the moment Messi requested to be substituted during the match. He noted, “The coaching staff and I were watching the Inter Miami match against Philadelphia... The first reports aren’t that bad. We hope nothing serious has happened to him, and now we will see exactly how his recovery progresses.”

With the reigning world champions already in the early stages of their preparations, several players have begun reporting to the Ezeiza training complex in Buenos Aires. The team is set to officially establish their World Cup base camp in Kansas City on June 1. As the squad gears up for the tournament, Scaloni is adopting a cautious approach to managing Messi’s recovery and workload.