Messi trains alone as Argentina hold first World Cup practice

Lionel Messi, 38, trained separately from his Argentina teammates during the squad's first World Cup practice session in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 3, 2026, as he continues to recover from muscle fatigue in his left hamstring sustained on May 24. The defending World Cup champions are based in Kansas City for their pre-tournament preparations. Messi is expected to be fit for Argentina's opening match against Algeria on June 16 in Kansas City.