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COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS – JUNE 06: Lionel Messi and Inter Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul of Argentina react prior the international friendly match between Argentina and Honduras at Kyle Field on June 06, 2026 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Tim Warner<\/p>\n
Getty Images<\/p>\n
Lionel Messi, who has been recovering from a hamstring injury since May 25, might play limited minutes for Argentina in its final World Cup preparation match against Iceland on Tuesday in Auburn, Alabama.<\/p>\n
The 38-year-old legend and Inter Miami captain is on Argentina\u2019s World Cup squad but did not play in the first pre-World Cup friendly, a 2-0 win over Honduras in College Station, Texas, on Saturday night.<\/p>\n
He was on the bench and participated in pre-game warmups but was an unused substitute.<\/p>\n
Messi exited the field before the end of Inter Miami\u2019s May 25 match against the Philadelphia Union due to muscle fatigue in his left hamstring.<\/p>\n
Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni said before the Honduras game that Messi was progressing and had returned to some workouts with his teammates, who are training in Kansas City, Kansas..<\/p>\n
\u201cLeo is doing well,\u201d Scaloni said in a news conference Friday. \u201cLeo trained for a part with the group, which is important. He\u2019s not fully separated; he\u2019s coming along. He may be part of the friendly matches, getting some minutes in these two friendlies. We\u2019ll see if it\u2019s the one [Saturday] or the next one. But he\u2019s doing a lot better and that gives us ease of mind.\u201d<\/p>\n
Argentina\u2019s World Cup opener is against Algeria on June 16.<\/p>\n
The team\u2019s other injured players are also coming along. Midfielder Nico Paz, who had been out since May 10 with a knee injury, completed his first training session on Sunday. Paz, 21, will be available for Tuesday\u2019s game against Iceland.<\/p>\n
Right backs Nahuel Molina and Gonzalo Montiel are also expected to be available after recovering from injuries. Goalkeeper Emiliano Mart\u00ednez and Leandro Paredes are still training separately from the rest of the squad, but the hope is they will be ready in time for the World Cup opener.<\/p>\n
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