Argentina secured a 2-0 victory over Honduras in their penultimate warm-up match ahead of the 2026 World Cup, with Lionel Messi resting for the game. The defending champions are preparing for the tournament, which will take place in Canada, Mexico, and the United States starting on June 11.

Messi's Rest and Argentina's Dominance

Messi, who led Argentina to triumph in the 2022 World Cup, has not played since being substituted due to "muscle fatigue" in his left hamstring while with Inter Miami on May 24. Argentina's head coach, Lionel Scaloni, noted that Messi was "doing well" but opted not to include the 38-year-old in the match against Honduras. Despite Messi's absence, Argentina controlled the game, with Lautaro Martinez converting a penalty and Giuliano Simeone adding a second goal.

Portugal's Mixed Results

In other warm-up action, Portugal triumphed 2-1 over Chile, although they faced a setback when Rafael Leao was sent off following a brawl just before halftime. Leao's suspension could see him miss the upcoming friendly against Nigeria and potentially the opening two World Cup matches against DR Congo and Uzbekistan. Cristiano Ronaldo, also preparing for his sixth World Cup, played the first half of the match, contributing to Portugal's victory with goals from Goncalo Guedes and Bruno Fernandes.

Germany and Brazil's Final Preparations

Germany concluded their warm-up matches with a 2-1 win against the United States, where Kai Havertz's early goal was equalized by Antonee Robinson before Leroy Sane secured the win. US coach Mauricio Pochettino expressed satisfaction with his team's performance, despite the loss. Germany, who have won their last nine matches, will face Curacao in their World Cup opener on June 14. Brazil also finished their preparations with a 2-1 victory over Egypt, with Newcastle United's Bruno Guimaraes scoring one of the goals.

As the teams finalize their rosters and strategies, the excitement builds for the upcoming World Cup, where both established stars and emerging talents will look to make their mark on the global stage.