Scaloni says Messi is improving before Honduras friendly

Scaloni Messi – Lionel Scaloni told reporters Friday that Lionel Messi is doing “really well,” training with the group for part of the session and potentially available for minutes in Argentina’s upcoming friendlies against Honduras and Iceland. Scaloni also confirmed another

Lionel Scaloni’s calm came in small details, not big declarations—Friday afternoon, as reporters gathered ahead of Argentina’s friendly against Honduras on Saturday, June 6, he described a return that never needed a spotlight.

Messi’s place in the 2026 World Cup roster is secured. but the question in every conversation this week was always the same: can he play. and can he do it soon enough. Scaloni’s answer was careful and specific—almost like he’d learned that with Messi. reassurance has to be earned one training session at a time.

“I simply wrote him a message, and he told me he was going to wait for the list to see if he was selected. Simply that. I said, ‘Well, you’re called up,’ and that’s it,” Scaloni said at a news conference Friday.

He added that he and the staff expected Messi might make some sort of announcement, but what happened was quieter. “We all expected that maybe he’d make an announcement, I did. But ultimately he did what any player would do, wait until the manager calls him up. That gave me a huge sense of calm.”

Scaloni described the plan as a straightforward one. “When he told me that he wasn’t going to make any announcement. that he was going to wait for the list of selected players. that’s how it went. I just get in touch with him when I think it’s really the right moment and at that time. well. for a while. when we were almost certain of the list of selected players. we asked him and that was the answer.”.

That tone—measured, grounded—returned when Scaloni was asked about the real uncertainty: Messi’s fitness.

Messi left the final Inter Miami match before the World Cup with a knock. and Herons manager Guillermo Hoyos later indicated the issue was due to fatigue. Since then. he has not fully reintegrated into Argentina’s training sessions as the Albiceleste prepares for World Cup preparation matches against Honduras and Iceland.

Still, Scaloni said the recovery is trending in the right direction. “Leo is doing well. He trained for a portion (of the session) with the group. which is important that he’s not totally separate. ” the manager said. “So. he’s doing really well and even could be part of the team in one of the games. some minutes in these two friendlies — we’ll see if it’s tomorrow or the other. But he’s much better, which makes us relax.”.

Scaloni suggested Messi could see time not only in one friendly, but that the broader picture is improving. “Even could be part of the team in one of the games. some minutes in these two friendlies — we’ll see if it’s tomorrow or the other. ” he said. noting Messi’s progress as the staff watch how his body responds.

As Messi edges toward a fuller workload, the bigger concern inside the team is how the back line holds together. Argentina will replace Leonardo Balerdi on its roster after the center back suffered a calf injury in Friday’s training session that will keep him out of the World Cup.

And while Messi’s availability is one piece of the puzzle. another is still waiting on information from the medical staff. Scaloni and his staff are still waiting to see if Cristian Romero will be ready for the opener against Algeria after he missed the end of the season with an MCL tear suffered in April.

The sequence of updates is telling: Messi’s status is the one fans hope to hear, but the week’s real tension sits in how quickly the rest of the squad can absorb setbacks—one injury at the training ground, another uncertainty lingering from months earlier.

Lionel Scaloni Lionel Messi Argentina vs Honduras friendly Argentina vs Iceland friendly 2026 World Cup roster Inter Miami Guillermo Hoyos Leonardo Balerdi calf injury Cristian Romero MCL tear Algeria opener