Argentina’s Lionel Messi is expected to take the field in the team’s FIFA World Cup 2026 opener against Algeria on June 16, 2026. File
| Photo Credit: Reuters
Argentina’s national team seems to be trending up health-wise ahead of its FIFA World Cup 2026 opener on June 16.
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Star Lionel Messi is recovering from left hamstring muscle fatigue, which forced him to prematurely exit his final Inter Miami match before the World Cup break on May 25. He might see some playing time in Argentina’s final friendly against Iceland on Tuesday (June 9, 2026) in Auburn, Ala.
Whether or not he plays this week, the 38-year-old is still expected to become one of the first two players to play in matches at six World Cups alongside Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo.
Even beyond Messi, the health of the team is improving. Midfielder Nico Paz, as well as defenders Nahuel Molina and Gonzalo Montiel, all fully participated in Sunday’s (June 8, 2026) training session at Kansas City.
Paz, set to make his World Cup debut at 21, has been sidelined since sustaining a left knee injury on May 10 with his club team Como in Italy.
Molina and Montiel have a combined 96 appearances for Argentina at right back, both representing the country at the 2022 World Cup, where Molina scored his only international goal on the way to Argentina’s third World Cup title.
Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and midfielder Leandro Paredes continued to work off to the side at Sunday’s (June 7, 2026) practice. Martinez has said that he’ll be available, while it has been reported that Paredes’ injury is not expected to sideline him for the World Cup.
Argentina begins its title defense against Algeria on June 16 at Kansas City in Group J before following with matches against Austria (June 22) and Jordan (June 27).
Published – June 09, 2026 03:03 pm IST
