Lionel Messi will arrive at Argentina's 2026 World Cup camp carrying a hamstring injury, manager Lionel Scaloni admitted after the Inter Miami captain suffered muscle fatigue during a 6-4 victory over Philadelphia Union. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner was substituted in the 73rd minute, raising immediate concerns about his readiness for the tournament in North America.
Scaloni provided cautious optimism in a media briefing, explaining that preliminary medical assessments suggest the injury is not severe. "The initial updates aren't entirely bad," Scaloni said. "Now we must wait to see how he evolves, pending results of further tests." Despite the setback, the Argentina boss expressed confidence that his talisman will be available for the group stage opener against Algeria on June 16, even if operating below peak condition. "We all wished Messi could have joined the squad fully fit, but that isn't the reality," Scaloni acknowledged.
Squad-Wide Fitness Crisis Ahead of Tournament
Messi's injury forms part of a broader crisis engulfing the Argentine squad. Several key players are racing against the clock to regain full match fitness:
- Emiliano Martínez – Aston Villa goalkeeper nursing a fractured ring finger from the Europa League final warm-up, but expected to feature
- Cristian Romero – Tottenham captain recovering from a ligament sprain in his right knee
- Nahuel Molina – Atletico Madrid full-back managing muscle fatigue
- Gonzalo Montiel – River Plate defender also sidelined with muscle strain
- Nico Paz – Como midfielder missing games due to knee injury
- Nicolás González – Forward in the final stages of recovery from muscle damage
To manage this injury epidemic, Scaloni has expanded his squad for warm-up friendlies against Honduras and Iceland. Young prospects Santiago Beltran and Joaquín Freitas from River Plate, Nicolas Capaldo of Hamburg, and Palmeiras' Agustín Giay have received call-ups as insurance cover. Scaloni explained the tactical thinking: "Something could happen between when the initial squad list is finalized and our first match. That window gives us time to make adjustments." This approach mirrors squad management strategies used in previous tournaments, where flexibility allows for late injury replacements.
Argentina's defensive depth will be tested severely if Romero, Molina, and Montiel cannot reach full fitness. The South American champions have won the last two Copa América tournaments and will defend their World Cup title with Messi leading the charge—albeit from a compromised physical position. The June 2 squad announcement deadline provides the federation with one final window to assess recovery progress before committing to their final 23.
