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Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has moved to ease concerns over Lionel Messi's fitness ahead of the World Cup, saying the captain has made progress in his recovery from a hamstring injury and could see minutes in the team's upcoming friendlies.

"Leo is doing well, he has already trained partly with the group, he's no longer completely separated," Scaloni said on Friday, as reported by the Buenos Aires Times. "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."

Messi, 38, sustained a left hamstring "muscle fatigue overload" during Inter Miami's MLS match against Philadelphia Union on Sunday, according to the Buenos Aires Times. He walked off the pitch in the 73rd minute after clutching the back of his left thigh, prompting concern given that the tournament could be the final major international competition of his career.

The Florida-based club confirmed the injury on Monday, adding that the timeline for his return would depend on his "clinical and functional evolution," as reported by the Buenos Aires Times.

Coverage comparison

Reporting on Messi's fitness has varied in tone across coverage from the Buenos Aires Times, which produced multiple articles on the subject. One piece focused on Argentina's 2-0 victory over Honduras in a World Cup warm-up game on Saturday, noting that Messi was on the bench but unused. Another highlighted Scaloni's cautious optimism, quoting the coach's assurances that the first signs "are not so bad." A third piece, published earlier, had a more concerned tone regarding the injury's potential impact on Argentina's title defense.

All articles agreed on the core facts: Messi is recovering from a hamstring injury, and his availability for the World Cup remains uncertain. They also shared the detail that other key players, such as Cristian Romero, Nahuel Molina, Gonzalo Montiel, and Emiliano Martínez, are also managing fitness issues.

Key claims

  • Argentina defeated Honduras 2-0 in a World Cup warm-up match at College Station, Texas, with goals from Lautaro Martínez and Giuliano Simeone, as reported by the Buenos Aires Times.
  • Messi was an unused substitute in that match, with Scaloni managing his recovery, according to the Buenos Aires Times.
  • Scaloni said Messi has "taken a step forward" and could play a few minutes in the friendlies against Honduras or Iceland, per the Buenos Aires Times.
  • Scaloni described the first signs regarding Messi's injury as "not so bad," according to the Buenos Aires Times.
  • Argentina will face Iceland in their final friendly in Auburn, Alabama, on Tuesday before opening their World Cup campaign against Algeria on June 16 in Kansas City, as reported by the Buenos Aires Times.
  • Centre-back Leonardo Balerdi has been ruled out of the World Cup with a calf injury, according to the Buenos Aires Times.

Perspectives

Scaloni struck a cautiously optimistic tone, emphasizing that Messi's recovery is progressing and that the priority is to have the squad fully fit for the tournament. "Most of the players who had problems are not fully recovered yet and our goal is for everyone to arrive in the best possible condition," he said, as reported by the Buenos Aires Times.

Concern has centered on the possibility that the injury could hamper Messi's participation at a sixth World Cup, which begins with Argentina facing Algeria. The reaction at the stadium when Messi limped off was one of shock, given the importance of the player to Argentina's title hopes, according to the Buenos Aires Times.

While Scaloni's update is encouraging, the national team's medical staff continues to manage a list of other injury concerns. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez is expected to miss both friendlies due to a finger fracture, and defenders Romero, Molina, and Montiel are also nursing injuries, as reported by the Buenos Aires Times.