Argentina's head coach Lionel Scaloni has revealed that captain Lionel Messi will not be "fully fit" when he joins the national team for their 2026 World Cup campaign. The Inter Miami forward recently suffered a hamstring issue during an MLS match, raising concerns among fans just weeks ahead of the tournament in North America.

Messi's Fitness Concerns

Messi, an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, was substituted in the 73rd minute of a thrilling 6-4 victory against the Philadelphia Union after feeling discomfort following a free kick. Inter Miami later stated that Messi is dealing with overload related to muscle fatigue in his left hamstring. Despite this setback, Scaloni expressed optimism about Messi's recovery, noting that the initial medical updates are not entirely negative. "Now, we must wait to see how he evolves, pending the results of further tests to see if they confirm the initial medical reports," Scaloni said in an interview with DSports.

Wider Injury Issues for Argentina

Scaloni's concerns extend beyond Messi, as several players are also facing injury challenges ahead of the World Cup. Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez has a fractured ring finger but is expected to be fit for the tournament opener. Tottenham's Cristian Romero is working to recover from a ligament sprain in his right knee, while full-backs Nahuel Molina and Gonzalo Montiel are both dealing with muscle injuries. Additionally, Como midfielder Nico Paz missed his club's final Serie A match due to a knee injury, and Nicolas Gonzalez is in the final stages of recovery from a muscle tear. These injury issues have prompted the coaching staff to devise emergency plans for upcoming warm-up matches against Honduras and Iceland.

As the June 2 squad announcement deadline approaches, Scaloni remains focused on ensuring his players are rehabilitated and ready for the World Cup, despite the challenges presented by their current fitness situations. "We all wished Messi could have joined the squad fully fit, but that isn't the reality," he added, emphasizing the importance of player recovery ahead of the tournament.