Messi, Molina & Montiel - Argentina injury news ahead of Iceland pre-World Cup clash
The defending champions will play their last friendly on Tuesday before their opening World Cup game.
Lionel Messi-led Argentina will take on Iceland, which will be their last warm-up game before they start their 2026 FIFA World Cup quest. The defending champions will head into the competition as heavy favourites.
However, this time Lionel Scaloni will have a selection dilemma against Iceland. Many stars have returned from injury.
Also read: Five important things we learned from Argentina’s win over Honduras pre-World Cup 2026
Argentina handed major injury news ahead of the Iceland game
Nico Paz completed his first training session with the Argentina national team on Sunday after recovering from a knee injury.
The Como midfielder has been out since May 10 after suffering a blow to his left knee. Paz, 21, will be ready to play Tuesday’s warm-up match against Iceland in Auburn, Alabama.
Argentina’s coach, Lionel Scaloni, will additionally have Nahuel Molina and Gonzalo Montiel at his disposal. Both full-backs have recuperated from their injuries and finished Sunday’s practice.
Lionel Messi, meanwhile, has been recovering from a muscle strain in his left hamstring. He will play against Iceland after Scaloni confirmed his availability for the game.
Also read: Lionel Scaloni confirms Lionel Messi’s availability for Argentina vs Iceland
Argentina’s captain watched from the sidelines as his team defeated Honduras 2-0 in a friendly match on Saturday. Messi, 38, has been out since May 25. He sustained a muscular injury while playing a match for Inter Miami before joining the national team.
However, they have been handed major positive news. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner will feature in the game. He participated in the recent group training.
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez and Leandro Paredes are still working apart from the rest of the squad to recover from injuries.
Both players are anticipated to recover in time for La Albiceleste’s opening World Cup match against Algeria on June 16.
Will Messi play against Iceland?
Yes.
Who else has returned from injury?
Nico Paz, Nahuel Molina and Gonzalo Montiel.
Who is their first World Cup opponent?
Algeria.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.