Lionel Messi, after health concerns from the MLS match between Inter Miami and Philadelphia Union, returned to match action and scored in Argentina's final preparation match before the World Cup. The defending champions defeated Auburn Island 3:0 on Tuesday, June 10, with the thirty-eight-year-old captain coming on as a substitute and converting from a penalty. SITA ↗
Messi had previously not featured in the preparatory match against Honduras, which Argentina won 2:0 on Saturday, June 7, at Kyle Field Stadium in Texas. He remained on the bench after asking to be substituted in the 73rd minute of Inter Miami's match against Philadelphia Union due to leg pain. Miami won that match 6:4, with the first half ending 4:4, and Luis Suárez was a standout figure with a hat-trick. Index.hu ↗
Argentina is also dealing with other personnel issues ahead of the tournament's start. Emiliano Martínez, Gonzalo Montiel, Leandro Paredes, and Nico Paz were absent from the preparation, while Leonardo Balerdi had to cancel his participation in the championship. Coach Lionel Scaloni admitted the team is not fully fit, but at the same time emphasized its identity. Index.hu ↗
Messi is on the squad list for the tournament in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, which begins on June 11 with a match between Mexico and South Africa. If he takes the field, it will be his sixth World Cup. Argentina is considered the clear favorite in Group J, while Austria and Algeria are expected to compete for the second qualifying spot. El Mundo ↗
Messi returned with a goal before the World Cup in Argentina's final tune-up
This summary was generated by artificial intelligence. It may contain inaccuracies. Please verify information in the original sources below.
Sources (15)
Argentinien schlug Honduras ohne Messi 2:0 und hat große Personalsorgen
Der Standard
| 12:23 07.06.
Veteráni Messi, Ronaldo a Modrič majú pred sebou posledné MS. Stane sa niekto z nich majstrom sveta? Aké majú šance?
SITA
| 12:50 11.06.
Fußball-Weltmeisterschaft: Shakira, Gewitter, Curaçao: Das muss man zum WM-Start wissen
Tagesspiegel
| 03:32 11.06.
BOOM MS26: Messi spopularizoval soccer a MLS
teraz.sk
| 12:00 10.06.
Lionel Messi góljával olyan rekordot döntött meg, aminek aligha örül
Index.hu
| 09:16 10.06.
J-skupina MS26: Jasným favoritom je obhajca z Argentíny
teraz.sk
| 14:40 09.06.
Už 64 let nikdo neobhájil titul. Zvládne to Messi? Argentina řeší otazníky
denik.cz
| 12:15 09.06.
Ďurica sa teší na MS, ponocovať však neplánuje: Futbal už nesledujem ako kedysi
STVR (Spravy)
| 11:10 09.06.
Scaloni pripustil, že Argentínčania nie sú fit, ale majú identitu
teraz.sk
| 12:26 07.06.
Ingyentévét ad egy argentin vállalat a foci-vb-ről lemaradt szurkolóknak
HVG
| 13:24 11.06.
Lionel Messi figyelmeztette az argentin válogatott világbajnoki kihívóit
Index.hu
| 12:23 11.06.
La hora del relevo en el Olimpo de las favoritas: el adiós de Messi y Cristiano, el testigo de Mbappé y Vinicius, con Kane de invitado
El Mundo
| 12:49 10.06.
Fußball-WM: Weltmeister Argentinien schießt sich warm mit Messi-Rekord
Tagesspiegel
| 07:38 10.06.
Naskočil, skóroval. Messi už je zdravý, v generálce pomohl Argentině zdolat Island
idnes.cz
| 06:59 10.06.
Schüsse in der Nacht: Sicherheitsbedenken bei WM-Teams in Kansas City
Der Standard
| 15:59 08.06.
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