Lionel Messi did not participate in Argentina's friendly match against Honduras on Saturday night as he continues to deal with muscle fatigue and a mild strain in his left hamstring ahead of the World Cup. Despite being active during warm-ups at Kyle Field, Texas A&M, Messi remained on the bench while Argentina secured a 2-0 victory.

Messi's Recovery Status

The Argentine team has indicated that Messi's recovery timeline will depend on "his clinical and functional progress." Argentina's next match is against Iceland in Auburn, Alabama, on Tuesday, serving as a final preparation before the World Cup. Following this match, the team will resume training in Kansas City.

Upcoming World Cup Challenges

Argentina is set to begin its World Cup title defense against Algeria at Arrowhead Stadium on June 16. Messi, who will turn 39 in three weeks, is expected to retire from international soccer after this tournament. He currently holds the record for the most World Cup matches played (26) and needs four more goals to break Miroslav Klose's record of 16 World Cup goals.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19, spanning three countries, with the final match scheduled for July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All matches will be broadcast live across FOX and FS1, with streaming available on the FOX One and FOX Sports apps.