Lionel Messi was injured in Inter Miami’s MLS game on Sunday, but Argentina are confident he will be available for the World Cup.
Published May 27, 2026
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni says the initial news about superstar Lionel Messi’s fitness is “not too bad” and hopes further tests will confirm the diagnosis with the World Cup just two weeks away.
Messi was diagnosed with a muscle strain in his left hamstring by his Major League Soccer (MLS) club Inter Miami after he was abruptly sent off in the 73rd minute of Miami’s 6-4 win over Philadelphia on Sunday.
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Even at the age of 38, Messi remains a talisman as the team defends the title they won in Qatar four years ago, as they aim to qualify for their sixth World Cup finals.
The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward scored 116 goals in 198 appearances for Argentina.
“Obviously it would have been better if nothing had happened,” Scaloni told Argentine television station DSports on Tuesday.
“Now we have to wait and see how it develops and, above all, the new tests that will be carried out to see if the original diagnosis is confirmed.”
Scaloni, who is expected to announce the team’s name next week, watched the match on TV at the federation’s headquarters and added that he was relieved that Messi had asked to leave.
Inter coach Guillermo Hoyos explained after the match that Messi was tired, the pitch was heavy and no one wanted to risk Messi’s fitness.
“His schedule for return to physical activity will depend on his clinical and functional progress,” Inter Miami said in a statement on Monday.
It gave little indication of the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner’s status.
Argentina is scheduled to open the World Cup on June 16th against Algeria in Kansas City.
They will then face Austria on June 22nd and conclude Group J with a match against Jordan on June 28th.
Messi has managed his workload since joining Inter Miami in 2023, with team staff regularly excluding him from matches during busy match periods.
MLS has entered its season break in preparation for the World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Messi has not officially announced plans to play in the World Cup, but is widely expected to return for a record-equalling sixth finals appearance. His highlight was the victory in the final against France in the 2022 tournament.
His great Portuguese rival Cristiano Ronaldo and potentially Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa will also be making their sixth appearances.
Argentina is scheduled to play two pre-World Cup friendlies, against Honduras on June 6th and against Iceland on June 9th, both in the United States.
