Argentina: Lionel Messi trained separately from Argentina’s main group during the national team’s opening practice session at their World Cup base in the United States, as the defending champions began preparations this week.
The squad held its first pre-tournament training on Monday in Kansas City, Missouri, where Messi—currently with Inter Miami—worked on individual and controlled drills due to ongoing muscle fatigue in his left hamstring, an issue he has been managing since May 24.
According to the Argentine Football Association, players carrying minor injuries or physical discomfort are undergoing targeted recovery and physiotherapy sessions, with medical staff reporting steady progress across the group.
Messi, 38, is expected to be available for Argentina’s opening World Cup match against Algeria on June 16 in Kansas City. The team will play its final warm-up fixture against Iceland on June 9 in Auburn, Alabama.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and two-time MLS MVP is set to appear in a record sixth World Cup. He remains Argentina’s most-capped player with 198 appearances and their all-time leading scorer with 116 goals since debuting in 2005.