Lionel Scaloni has eased some Lionel Messi fears, but Argentina still have to treat his hamstring injury as a serious World Cup warning.
The update is encouraging because Inter Miami's first diagnosis pointed to muscle fatigue rather than a tear. But Scaloni made it clear that Argentina are not getting the perfect version of their captain right now.
That is the reality check before the tournament. Messi may be on track, but Argentina's medical staff still have work to do before the opener.
Photo by LUIS ROBAYO/AFP via Getty Images
Speaking to ESPN , Scaloni admitted Argentina must wait before knowing exactly how much concern Messi's hamstring issue should create.
"The initial updates aren't entirely bad, we must wait to see how he evolves, pending the results of further tests to see if they confirm the initial medical reports," Scaloni said.
The Argentina boss added, "We all wished Messi could have joined the squad fully fit, but that isn't the reality."
That final line is the blunt part. Scaloni is not denying the relief around the diagnosis, but he is also refusing to pretend Argentina have nothing to worry about.
Messi left Inter Miami's match against Philadelphia Union after feeling discomfort in his left hamstring. The club later said the initial diagnosis indicated overload linked to muscle fatigue.
That sounds far better than structural damage, but Argentina will still have to manage his workload carefully before their World Cup opener against Algeria on June 16.
Scaloni also made it clear that Messi is not the only fitness concern inside the squad.
"It's not just him; many players have yet to fully recover from injuries. Our main priority now is their rehabilitation to ensure they reach the World Cup in peak condition," Scaloni concluded.
That matters because Argentina are defending champions, and the margin between another deep run and a difficult tournament can come down to recovery timing.
The focus now is less about forcing Messi through every training session and more about making sure he arrives sharp when the matches actually matter.
Argentina can survive managed minutes in friendlies. They cannot afford a setback that turns a manageable hamstring scare into a tournament-defining problem.
Scaloni's message was not panic. It was realism. The first update may not be entirely bad, but Argentina's World Cup defense starts with getting their captain and the rest of the injured group fully ready.
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