Lionel Scaloni hopeful Lionel Messi injury ‘not that bad’ ahead of announcing Argentina squad for 2026 World Cup
Published 27/05/2026 at 15:47 GMT+1
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Lionel Scaloni is sweating over Lionel Messi’s fitness ahead of announcing Argentina’s FIFA World Cup squad, but is hopeful that the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner’s problem is not serious.
Inter Miami manager provides update on 'fatigued' Messi
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Messi was withdrawn from Inter Miami's MLS match against Philadelphia Union on Sunday with a hamstring problem, as a nervous Scaloni watched the events unfold.
Miami won a topsy-turvy clash 6-4, with Messi assisting his side's first and third goals.
The wet conditions proved particularly troublesome, though, as Messi took a tumble in the 62nd minute and asked to be substituted.
Inter Miami interim manager Guillermo Hoyos said after the match: "As far as I know, we don't have a report on that yet, but he really was fatigued.
"It was fatigue. He was tired, the field was heavy, and rather than doubt, one always says not to take the risk."
The reigning world champions have announced their 35-man provisional squad and must name their final roster of players ahead of FIFA’s June 2 deadline.
”We were watching the match at the training ground,” said Scaloni in an interview with Dsports.
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”We realised he asked to be substituted, that he wasn't well. The first reports are not that bad. Logically, we would prefer that nothing had happened to him.
”Now, we have to wait and see how he progresses. Above all, they're going to run tests on him, I imagine, and see if it's as they say.
"We would have liked him to arrive without any kind of problems, but that is not the case with him and with most of the players who have had problems.
”They are not fully recovered. Our goal is to try to recover them and have them arrive in the best possible condition.”
Scaloni’s anxiety regarding Messi’s participation at this summer’s World Cup is nothing new, after assessing the 38-year-old’s prospects in comments to the media in March.
Speaking ahead of the friendlies against Mauritania and Zambia, he said: "This is a question more for him, but as far as I'm concerned, you already know what I think. I will do everything I can to make sure he is there.
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"I believe that he has to be there, for the sake of football, but it's not me who decides. It's up to him how he feels in his mind and his physical condition."
The Albiceleste are expected to arrive in the United States next week and play friendlies against Honduras and Iceland, before facing Algeria in their World Cup Group J opener on June 17.
Any doubts surrounding Messi add to Scaloni growing list of injury concerns, which includes Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and Cristian Romero.
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Martinez played in the UEFA Europa League final victory over Freiburg with a broken finger, and Romero was absent from Tottenham Hotspur's last six league games due to a knee problem.
Nahuel Molina, Gonzalo Montiel, Nico Paz and Nicolas Gonzalez are also still making their way back to fitness, in hardly ideal preparations for Scaloni ahead of Argentina's trophy defence.
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