Argentina Coach Drops Bombshell on Messi's Comeback Timeline Ahead of World Cup Showdown

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has indicated that superstar Lionel Messi could potentially see action in the nation's two pre-tournament warm-up matches ahead of the World Cup.

The reigning world champions — along with every sponsor that has emblazoned Messi's likeness on anything remotely tied to the tournament — collectively held their breath when the 37-year-old hobbled off the field during Inter Miami's last match of May.

What was initially dismissed as tiredness was later upgraded to a hamstring issue. Scaloni was at first just as uninformed as the public regarding Messi's condition, but subsequent medical evaluations and his positive response to light training sessions have raised optimism about a speedy recovery.

"Leo is doing well," the World Cup-winning manager told reporters on Friday. "Leo trained for a portion with the group, which is significant. He's not completely separated; he's progressing.

"He could potentially feature in the friendly matches, getting some minutes across these two games. We'll see whether it's tomorrow's match or the following one. But he's feeling much better and that gives us peace of mind."

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Regarding Messi's fitness, Scaloni is comfortable enough to allow the eight-time Ballon d'Or recipient to assess his own readiness. As the former right back has openly acknowledged: "Every decision we've made, we've discussed it with him."

Yet rather than shying away from difficult situations, Messi has consistently pushed himself through pain while representing his nation.

The 2024 Copa América final was one of the rare instances when Messi succumbed to the pain, limping out of a grueling clash against Colombia with roughly 25 minutes still remaining. Watching from the bench, Messi was briefly moved to tears before his teammates clinched the trophy without him.

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"He wanted to play football; he wants to keep playing no matter if it's a final or not," Scaloni reflected on that match in an interview with Olé. "To leave the pitch like that — it's devastating, especially given how devoted he's been to us: there are things I simply can't put into words about how he's performed for this team.

"And you realize: if he's walking off, something must be seriously wrong. In fact, after that final, he was sidelined for — I'm not sure exactly how long. That tells you everything about the kind of person he is."

Messi sustained ankle ligament damage during the final and didn't return to Inter Miami for two full months — the lengthiest uninterrupted injury layoff of his career since breaking a metatarsal as a young player at Barcelona back in 2006.

If there is any opportunity for Messi to step onto the pitch this summer, he will undoubtedly seize it.