Argentine’s coach, Lionel Scaloni has delivered a positive update on the fitness of captain Lionel Messi, revealing that the 38-year-old has rejoined portions of full squad training and could feature for a few minutes in the defending champions’ pre-tournament warm-up matches ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Messi had been a source of significant concern within the Argentina camp after sustaining a strain in his left hamstring during Inter Miami’s final Major League Soccer match against Philadelphia Union. The injury prompted doubts over his availability for the pre-tournament friendlies, and some reports suggested he might be restricted to a limited role at the tournament itself.

However, Scaloni’s latest assessment has eased those fears considerably.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Scaloni confirmed that the Argentine talisman was no longer training in complete isolation from the group. “Leo is doing well, he has already trained partly with the group, he’s no longer completely separated,” the coach said. “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.

” He added that the improvement in Messi’s condition was a source of comfort to the entire squad. “He’s much better and that gives us peace of mind,” Scaloni said.

Argentina face Honduras in College Station, Texas on Saturday before taking on Iceland in Auburn, Alabama on Tuesday their final two preparation matches before the World Cup gets underway on June 11.

The reigning world champions open their Group J campaign against Algeria on June 16, and Scaloni’s broader aim is to have Messi fully ready for that opening fixture rather than risk him unnecessarily in the friendlies.

Messi is not the only fitness concern in the Argentina camp. Defender Cristian Romero has returned to group training following a knee sprain sustained in April, though he arrives without match sharpness, leaving Scaloni to weigh whether to give him minutes before the tournament opens. Midfielder Nicolas Paz, who suffered a heavy blow to his knee, is training separately and has been ruled out of the Honduras fixture, leaving his availability for the World Cup debut in some doubt.

Leandro Paredes is also being monitored by the medical staff.

Despite the injury concerns swirling around his squad, Scaloni struck a characteristically calm and measured tone, insisting that rigid planning would be abandoned if players demonstrated they were ready to perform. The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will be Messi’s sixth and likely final tournament, lending extra weight to every update on his physical condition as Argentina bid to become back-to-back world champions.