COLLEGE STATION, Texas — As the 2026 FIFA World Cup rapidly approaches, Argentine soccer legend Lionel Messi was forced to watch his team’s pre-tournament friendly against Honduras from the Kyle Field sideline on Saturday night, sidelined by ongoing management of muscle fatigue and a mild left hamstring strain. The 38-year-old, who will celebrate his 39th birthday just three weeks from the match, did complete warm-up routines alongside his teammates on the Texas A&M University campus before taking up a spot on the bench for the full 90 minutes. He was a spectator as his side secured a solid 2-0 win over the Central American side.
The Argentine Football Association has noted that Messi’s recovery timeline will be adjusted based on his ongoing clinical improvement and functional progress as he works to regain full fitness ahead of the World Cup. This friendly against Honduras marked the second-to-last warm-up match for the reigning World Cup champions, who will wrap up their pre-tournament preparation with a matchup against Iceland in Auburn, Alabama this coming Tuesday. Following that final tune-up contest, the squad will return to training in Kansas City to finalize their game plans before the tournament kicks off.
Messi’s hamstring issue first drew attention earlier this week, when he arrived late to team training sessions in Kansas City. Instead of joining full squad drills, the star forward completed individualized conditioning work separate from the rest of his teammates to avoid exacerbating the minor injury.
This summer’s World Cup is widely expected to be Messi’s final appearance in international soccer, closing out a record-breaking career with the Argentine national team. He already holds the all-time record for the most matches played in World Cup history, with 26 appearances to his name. He is also just four goals away from breaking another iconic World Cup record: Miroslav Klose of Germany’s all-time mark of 16 World Cup goals. Argentina will open its 2026 World Cup title defense against Algeria on June 16 at Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium.