Messi sustained an injury early on before the 2026 World Cup, while coach Lionel Scaloni expressed worries about the general performance of the Argentina team, putting their preparation in question.
Lionel Messi has started his journey towards the 2026 World Cup in a rather troubled way, as he got injured during the preseason with Inter Miami. Furthermore, the outlook for Argentina's team in the North American tournament took another psychological blow, with coach Lionel Scaloni reportedly growing increasingly concerned about his players' overall form.
Inter Miami confirmed midweek that Messi suffered a muscle issue in a friendly against Barcelona SC before the MLS 2026 season started. However, according to ESPN journalist Esteban Edul, the coaching staff's worries extend beyond the captain to the entire core squad of the Argentina national team.
Messi sat on the stairs apologizing to Puerto Rican fans.
Specifically, Scaloni’s team assessed that “individually, most players are performing below their best level.” Among the expected starters for the 2026 World Cup, only two players are considered to be in top form: Enzo Fernández, who is having the best season of his career at Chelsea with 11 goals in 38 matches; and Lisandro Martínez, a key figure in Manchester United’s strong revival since returning from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
In addition, some other players are viewed positively, such as goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, a reliable stopper for Aston Villa currently third in the Premier League, and Lautaro Martínez, Inter Milan’s leader and the current top scorer in Serie A with 14 goals. Conversely, doubts remain about the form of regular key players like Nahuel Molina, Nicolás Tagliafico, Alexis Mac Allister, Rodrigo De Paul (who has yet to play in 2026 with Inter Miami), and Julián Álvarez. Despite being World Cup champions, the 2025/26 campaign has so far offered little optimism for Argentina’s core lineup.
World Cup preparations have begun
Although hesitant to confirm his participation, the 2026 World Cup remains Messi’s ultimate goal in the final phase of his career. Inter Miami insists his injury is not serious, but the decision to postpone the friendly against Independiente del Valle is believed to be a precaution to avoid any unnecessary risk for the Argentine superstar.
Previously, Scaloni revealed he had directly discussed World Cup plans with Messi. At the end of January, the coach also met with Atlético Madrid’s staff and players Juan Musso, Thiago Almada, Nicolás González, and Julián Álvarez, as preparations for the World Cup have been underway for six months ahead of the tournament’s start.
Links
Contact
App
