Lionel Messi has taken a significant step forward in his recovery from a hamstring injury and could feature for a few minutes in Argentina's upcoming friendlies ahead of their World Cup opener, coach Lionel Scaloni announced on Friday.
Scaloni Provides Update on Messi's Condition
"Leo is doing well, he has already trained partly with the group, he's no longer completely separated," Scaloni stated. "It's possible he'll play a few minutes in the friendlies. We'll see whether that's tomorrow's game or the other one."
The defending World Cup champions are set to face Honduras in College Station, Texas, on Saturday, followed by a match against Iceland on Tuesday in Auburn, Alabama. "He's much better and that gives us peace of mind," Scaloni added.
Injury Concerns Across the Squad
Messi sustained a strain in his left hamstring during Inter Miami's last match and was initially not expected to play against Honduras. However, his progress has been encouraging. The Argentine medical staff is managing multiple injury issues beyond their star player.
Goalkeeper Juan Musso of Atletico Madrid will start against Honduras at Kyle Field, as first-choice keeper Emiliano Martinez suffered a fracture in the ring finger of his right hand during warm-ups for the Europa League final. Team doctors have decided to hold Martinez out of both friendlies, though he should be available for the World Cup opener against Algeria.
Scaloni plans to give minutes to debutant Santiago Beltran, the young River Plate goalkeeper called up for these matches. In defense, right backs Nahuel Molina and Gonzalo Montiel are recovering from muscle tears, prompting the coaching staff to call up Agustin Giay and Nicolas Capaldo as replacements.
Center-back Cristian Romero is training with the group after a knee sprain suffered in April, but he lacks match fitness. Scaloni must decide whether to give him playing time or wait. Nicolas Paz is training separately after a heavy blow to his knee and has been ruled out for the Honduras game; his availability for the World Cup debut remains uncertain.
Leandro Paredes and Julian Alvarez arrived at Argentina's camp in Kansas with physical issues. Though improving, their participation in the warm-up matches is doubtful. "The situation is improving," Scaloni said. "They're fine, and we don't want to risk them in these games. The idea is surely that the injured players won't take part in these friendlies. In this one against Honduras, definitely not. In the second, there might be a chance that one of them could play."
Scaloni emphasized that the coming week will show "exactly where we stand." Argentina are set to begin their World Cup campaign on June 16 against Algeria in Kansas City.
