Ever since leading Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar in 2022, Messi has followed a carefully planned process to arrive at the 2026 tournament ready to compete at the highest level. Physically, he left nothing to chance from the start of the MLS season.
A demanding road to the World Cup
Messi followed an intensive training program that included two daily sessions. He trained with Inter Miami in the mornings before working with a personal trainer in the afternoons to maximize his conditioning ahead of the World Cup.
Although a minor injury briefly interrupted those preparations in recent weeks, Messi enters the tournament in outstanding statistical form. Over his last five MLS appearances for Inter Miami, he scored five goals and recorded eight assists. Overall this season, he has totaled 12 goals and eight assists in just 14 league matches.
Injury concern before Argentina's opener
Messi suffered a left hamstring injury during Inter Miami's final MLS match before the international break against the Philadelphia Union. After spending a few weeks on the sidelines, he returned in Argentina's second World Cup warmup match against Iceland.
It took him only two minutes to make an impact in that friendly. Messi set up Lautaro Martínez for a play that resulted in a penalty, then stepped up and converted the spot kick himself.
He is expected to be in Argentina's starting lineup for its World Cup opener against Algeria. Social posts suggest Messi has recovered and is lined up to start for Argentina on World Cup debut day.
Lionel Messi has recovered and will start for Argentina today on World Cup debut, reports indicate.
For many soccer fans, Messi remains the face of the game as the world watches him once again on the sport's biggest stage.
