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Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni says his nation—and the wider world—will need to "wait and see" how serious the injury Lionel Messi sustained while playing for Inter Miami on Monday truly is.
Messi was forced off in the 79th minute of a wild MLS clash against Philadelphia Union, with the game level at 4–4. Miami's early medical assessment then indicated "muscle fatigue in the left hamstring," triggering concern with the 2026 World Cup fast approaching.
Even as he approaches his 38th birthday, Messi remains the cornerstone of Argentina's bid to become the first side in over 60 years to successfully defend the men's World Cup title. His absence at full fitness would also be a significant loss for the tournament itself.
Scaloni doesn't seem overly alarmed, though further testing is needed. He and his coaching staff were watching the Miami game from their base in Argentina and immediately sensed trouble the moment Messi walked off the pitch.
"We were watching the match at the training ground. We noticed he asked to come off, that something wasn't right," the 2022 World Cup-winning coach told DSports.
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"The initial reports aren't too alarming. Naturally, we would have preferred nothing had happened to him. Now, we have to wait and see how he develops. Most importantly, they're going to run tests on him, I'd imagine, and confirm whether it's as described.
"We would have preferred him to arrive [in camp] completely fit, but that isn't the case with him or with most of the players who have picked up issues. They aren't fully fit. Our aim is to get them recovered and ensure they arrive in the best shape possible."
All-Time World Cup Record Beckons for Messi
Even if Messi were unavailable for early-stage matches, his inclusion in Argentina's squad appears all but certain—given everything he has contributed to the national team over 21 years and the difference he could still make in the latter knockout stages.
Scaloni has yet to officially announce Argentina's squad, though that reveal is expected very soon.
History is within Messi's grasp, the eight-time Ballon d'Or recipient. This will be his sixth World Cup, a men's tournament record he will jointly equal alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, who has already been confirmed in Portugal's squad for a sixth appearance. Both made their World Cup debuts in 2006, when Ronaldo was 21 and Messi was just turning 19.
However, when it comes to individual World Cup appearances, a standalone record could belong to Messi by July. He has already featured in more men's World Cup games than anyone else, making his 26th appearance in the 2022 final against France. Yet the overall World Cup record is held by USWNT icon Kristine Lilly, who appeared 30 times across the women's tournament between 1991 and 2007.
Four outings for Messi in 2026 would match that mark, while five would surpass it. Argentina could feature in as many as eight matches in total should La Albiceleste advance to the final or the third-place playoff.