Lionel Scaloni has confirmed that Lionel Messi will play some part in Argentina's friendly against Iceland on Tuesday night in Auburn, Alabama, giving fans exactly the reassurance they were hoping for ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Scaloni was careful to add that Argentina will not be taking any risks with their talisman, which is the kind of sensible management you like to see when a tournament of that magnitude is just around the corner.
At 37 years old, Messi is not quite the same unstoppable force he was in his absolute prime, but let's be honest, even a slightly slower version of the man is still better than most players on the planet. He was absolutely instrumental in Argentina winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, producing the kind of tournament performance that settled any remaining debate about where he sits in football history. The job now is to keep him fit and firing when it actually matters.
Iceland are a decent enough test as friendlies go. They are organised, physical, and they are not going to roll over just because Messi is on the pitch. Remember when they held Argentina to a draw at the 2018 World Cup? They are not a side to take lightly, and Scaloni will know that running the rule over his squad against quality opposition is far more useful than a glorified training session.
For Argentina, the bigger picture is clear. They are the reigning world champions, they have the best player of all time still pulling on the shirt, and they will arrive at this tournament as one of the genuine favourites. The pressure that brings is enormous, but this squad has already shown it can handle that weight.
The fact that Messi is involved at all, even with precautions in place, will lift the mood around the camp. When he plays, Argentina are a different animal entirely, and everyone in football knows it. Tuesday night in Alabama should be a good watch.
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