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Argentine soccer icon Lionel Messi was left out of the starting eleven for the international friendly against Honduras in College Station, TX, the second-to-last match before the South American giants kick off their World Cup campaign on June 16; however, he was suited up and listed on the matchday squad as an available substitute.
25-year-old Thiago Almada stepped into Messi's customary right wing role, while center back Nicolás Otamendi wore the captain's armband in his absence.
If Argentina is to successfully defend its World Cup crown this summer, it will need its soon-to-be 39-year-old talisman and skipper in peak condition, which means carefully managing his playing time in non-competitive fixtures, such as the clash against Honduras and the final warm-up match against Iceland on Tuesday.
Widely expected to feature in his sixth World Cup this summer, Messi must first fully recuperate from muscle fatigue in his left hamstring, which surfaced two weeks ago. He is nonetheless anticipated to be fit in time for Argentina's World Cup opener against Algeria. La Albiceleste are broadly regarded as tournament favorites and currently sit second in the global rankings, trailing only Spain.
Lionel Messi's Injury, Recovery Timeline
On May 25, Messi exited the pitch midway through the second half of Inter Miami's league fixture against the Philadelphia Union, after grabbing his hamstring and signaling for a replacement. His sudden exit triggered widespread concern, given how close the match was to the start of the World Cup.
The club and Messi's medical team subsequently confirmed that he had suffered "muscle fatigue," rather than a strain or tear in his leg.
The eight-time Ballon d'Or recipient had been training on his own—working to rebuild his fitness levels—up until Friday, when he rejoined the full squad in training, signaling an encouraging step in his recovery.
"Leo is doing well," Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni told reporters on Friday. "Leo trained for a portion with the group, which is important. He's not completely separated; he's progressing."
"He may get some involvement in the friendly matches, picking up minutes across these two games. We'll see whether it's tomorrow's match or the next one. But he's feeling much better and that gives us peace of mind."
Messi's close friend and Inter Miami club teammate, 32-year-old Rodrigo De Paul, was also named among the substitutes for Argentina at the start of the Honduras friendly.