Argentina captain Lionel Messi will return from injury during a World Cup warm-up match against Iceland in Alabama. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is set to play limited minutes in the friendly scheduled for the early hours of June 10.
Messi was withdrawn from an MLS match with Inter Miami on May 24 due to muscle fatigue. He missed Argentina’s weekend friendly win over Honduras but coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed he will feature against Iceland. Scaloni said Messi is going to play and have minutes, though the exact amount remains undecided. The coach added that the team aims to minimize risk while preparing for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Scaloni noted Messi’s importance to the squad and said everyone is waiting for him to play. He also mentioned ongoing injury concerns and the need for warm-up games despite the risks. Argentina will open their World Cup campaign against Algeria in Kansas City next Tuesday. Iceland failed to qualify for the finals and have not won any of their last five matches.
