Lobos Upnfm · USL Championship · Attacker · #32 · Argentina · 40 yrs
After Leonardo Balerdi's injury, Lionel Scaloni opened the door for even more changes in Argentina's 2026 World Cup roster. Argentina have already taken their first roster hit with Leonardo Balerdi ruled out of the 2026 World Cup due to injury, and head coach Lionel Scaloni has not closed the door on further changes being made to the squad before the tournament begins. Prior to the game against Honduras, the Argentine Football Association confirmed that Balerdi had sustained a muscle injury to the soleus in his right leg, effectively ending his World Cup before it started. At the post-match press conference, Scaloni addressed the situation directly. “Yesterday when I sat down at the press conference, I was hoping that it wouldn’t be what we all expected, and in the end it was confirmed that Balerdi has a soleus issue and we have to withdraw him because he doesn’t meet the minimum requirements to be able to help us at least in the group stage, and it was too risky,” he explained. Scaloni leaves door open for more roster changes Balerdi’s setback forces Scaloni to dip back into the preliminary 55-man list in search of defensive cover. However, no replacement has been confirmed yet, with the coach indicating he may still need to make additional adjustments beyond the Balerdi situation. Lautaro Martinez of Argentina celebrates with teammates after scoring against Honduras. When asked about a potential replacement, Scaloni issued a broader warning about the squad’s overall fitness. “We believe — I don’t want to cause alarm either — but we are not at 100% with several of the players, and maybe it doesn’t just involve the center backs. We are going to wait,” he said. Scaloni has set Tuesday’s friendly against Iceland on June 9 as the deadline for making decisions, both on Balerdi’s replacement and any other potential changes. “We have the opportunity of one more match and we are going to draw conclusions based on what the team needs. We are not going to make a decision until Tuesday’s match and seeing how the rest are. We will wait,” he added. Three players walking a thin line Even Lionel Messi had been managing some discomfort upon joining the squad, though he, Nico Paz and Julian Alvarez have shown signs of improvement ahead of the World Cup debut. That leaves three players still firmly in Scaloni’s sights as potential roster changes in the coming days. According to TyC Sports journalist and Argentina insider Gaston Edul, Nahuel Molina, Gonzalo Montiel and Leandro Paredes are the three names generating the most concern within the Albiceleste setup. None of the three were able to train with the squad ahead of the Honduras friendly, and none made it onto the substitutes’ bench for the match. Both right backs Molina and Montiel are managing muscle tears, which is why Scaloni brought in Agustin Giay and Nicolas Capaldo for the pre-tournament tour, with both Giay and Capaldo featuring against Honduras. Paredes, meanwhile, is dealing with a low-grade muscle tear from his most recent club action, leaving him unable to train normally and making him the most pressing concern of the three ahead of any potential roster decision in the coming days.
Argentina squares off against Honduras in a pre-World Cup friendly tonight at Kyle Field, but captain Lionel Messi will not see the pitch as the coaching staff manages his physical workload. Lionel Messi will not play in Argentina’s pre-World Cup warm-up match against Honduras at Kyle Field. The Argentine coaching staff has opted to take zero risks with their 38-year-old captain, who is currently recovering from muscle overload caused by lingering fatigue. According to Gaston Edul, a prominent Argentine national team insider for TyC Sports, Messi will suit up and sit on the bench tonight in College Station, Texas, but he is locked into a spectator role and will not log any game minutes to ensure his recovery stays on track. The decision comes just a day after manager Lionel Scaloni gave an encouraging fitness update on Friday, noting that Messi had already rejoined partial squad training and could potentially see playing time during Argentina‘s two-match US friendly slate. With tonight’s appearance ruled out, the Inter Miami star’s next window to get on the pitch will be Tuesday, June 9, when Argentina faces Iceland at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama. The World Champions are playing today! 🤩🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/vFIdb5OnJD— Selección Argentina in English (@AFASeleccionEN) June 6, 2026 However, team doctors have floated the possibility of resting him for that match as well, prioritizing 100% physical readiness for Argentina’s official World Cup group opener against Algeria on June 16. A heavily depleted roster facing Honduras Messi is far from the only high-profile absentee manager Lionel Scaloni must navigate for tonight’s clash against Honduras. Starting goalkeeper Emiliano “Dibu” Martinez is also sidelined as he continues to nurse a fractured finger, ruling him out for the entirety of this two-match international window. Julian Alvarez is another critical weapon the coaching staff refuses to gamble on. The Atletico Madrid forward had previously received medical clearance to return to full squad training; however, he reported persistent pain in his left ankle during subsequent drills. As a result, Scaloni scratched him from tonight’s lineup, and it is highly probable that he will sit out the upcoming match against Iceland as well. In addition to the frontline stars, a group of players—including Leandro Paredes, Gonzalo Montiel, Nahuel Molina, and Nico Paz—remain to individual rehabilitation programs as they fight to overcome their respective physical ailments. None of them will be risked tonight against Honduras.
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has delivered a positive update regarding Lionel Messi's fitness, revealing that the captain could feature in the upcoming warm-up matches ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The physical conditioning of Lionel Messi has undoubtedly been the primary concern for Lionel Scaloni and his coaching staff ahead of their 2026 World Cup defense. However, the Albiceleste manager has injected immense calm into the camp by providing a very positive update on the captain, suggesting he could see minutes on the pitch sooner than expected. Messi recently suffered hamstring fatigue during Inter Miami’s Major League Soccer victory over Philadelphia Union. Upon joining the national team camp, the forward was immediately placed on a specialized, individual training program to prioritize his recovery and avoid any risk of a tear. Speaking to the media during his latest press conference, Scaloni revealed that Messi’s recovery has taken a significant leap forward, as he has already rejoined a portion of full squad training. “Leo is doing well. He has already trained for part of the session with the main group, which is a massive step forward. He is no longer working entirely on his own,” Scaloni explained. Lionel Messi #10 participates during a team Argentina training session. (Getty Images) While initial reports out of Argentina heavily suggested that Messi would be completely rested for the upcoming friendlies against Honduras and Iceland, the tactician refused to rule him out. Instead, Scaloni indicated that the captain might actually see the pitch during this double-match window. “He is progressing quite nicely, to the point where he could play a part in these two friendlies for a few minutes. We will evaluate whether that happens tomorrow against Honduras or in the following match, but he feels much better, and that gives us tremendous peace of mind”. he continued. Scaloni warns of potential World Cup roster changes While the update on Messi was incredibly bright, Argentina’s broader fitness landscape heading into the World Cup is far more complicated. Although no squad member has been ruled out with a long-term injury, several key players are currently far from 100% fitness, prompting Scaloni to issue a strict warning regarding the final 26-man roster. “We are entirely certain that if someone is not physically right, they will be left out of the tournament; we are very clear on that. For now, we are managing it well, monitoring everyone and taking zero risks. When the final week arrives and we have to ramp up the intensity, that is when we will make the necessary tough decisions. We will see how the recovery plans progress,” the manager warned. Aside from Messi’s muscle fatigue, six other players have been forced to train away from the main group due to various physical setbacks, including Julian Alvarez (ankle), Nahuel Molina (muscle tear), Gonzalo Montiel (muscle tear), Leandro Paredes (muscle tear), Emiliano Martinez (fractured finger) and Nico Paz (minor fracture in his right knee). Scaloni concluded by stating that the upcoming week will serve as the ultimate litmus test for the reigning world champions, as the medical staff prepares to push the players’ bodies to full match capacity. “Next week will be crucial and will give us a much clearer picture. We are going to lift the workload and see exactly how those training separately respond to the intensity,” he added.
In order to recover from his ankle injury and be fit for the 2026 World Cup, Argentina star Julian Alvarez has reportedly undergoes special regenerative treatment. Julian Alvarez has been one of the most pressing fitness concerns within the Argentina squad, still unable to participate fully in training sessions alongside his teammates. In an effort to get him right ahead of the World Cup, the player and the coaching staff have reportedly turned to a specialized regenerative treatment. Since the training camp got underway at Sporting Kansas City’s facility on June 1, several players on the 26-man roster have been following individualized programs. While Lionel Messi has been the most prominent name in that group, Alvarez has also attracted significant attention given that he is still battling the effects of a sprained ankle. According to Argentine journalist and insider Leo Paradizo, Alvarez has undergone a platelet-rich plasma injection as part of his recovery protocol. The treatment is widely used in sports medicine to reduce inflammation and accelerate the healing process in the affected area. The expectation is that the effects of the injection will begin to take hold over the coming days, easing the pain in the ankle and allowing the striker to resume more normal training activity. Alvarez first sustained the ankle sprain during the Champions League semifinal first leg against Arsenal on April 29, forcing himself through the second leg on May 5 before being sidelined for the remainder of the club season. Julian Alvarez (left) and Nicolas Tagliafico (right) of Argentina arrives for the FIFA World Cup 2026. With that second leg against Arsenal standing as his last competitive appearance, Alvarez has yet to fully recover, and the immediate goal is to resolve the discomfort and get him back on the training pitch in a meaningful way. Argentina have one more training session scheduled on Thursday before traveling on Friday ahead of the friendly against Honduras the following day. Alvarez already ruled out of Honduras friendly With Alvarez still working through his individual program and the Honduras game arriving in two days, he is not expected to be available for selection. Messi is similarly anticipated to be among those held out of the first warm-up fixture as both stars continue their respective recoveries. In their absence, head coach Lionel Scaloni is expected to deploy a forward line led by Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez and Palmeiras’ Jose Lopez. The second and final pre-tournament friendly against Iceland on June 9 offers a more realistic opportunity for Alvarez, Messi and others to get minutes before the World Cup begins.
Argentina's first opponent at the 2026 World Cup, Algeria, pulled off a stunning upset victory over the Netherlands in a pre-tournament warm-up match. Argentina are finalizing their preparations to defend the crown at the 2026 World Cup, where the Albiceleste will look to retain their title and secure a fourth star, after winning the 2022 edition in Qatar. As the reigning champions gear up for their highly anticipated June 16 opener against Algeria, the African side has sent a clear message by securing a massive 1–0 victory over the Netherlands in a recent international friendly. Deploying a star-studded starting lineup, the squad managed by Vladimir Petkovic initially struggled to find its rhythm during the opening 45 minutes, weathering a barrage of dangerous attacking sequences from the Dutch hosts. However, goalkeeper Luca Zidane stepped up with a spectacular, Man of the Match performance, making several crucial saves to keep the clean sheet intact. For the second half, Petkovic utilized his tactical depth by making six substitutions to manage workloads and test variations. The tactical adjustments paid off as Algeria gradually seized control of the midfield. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 85th minute courtesy of Anis Hadj Moussa. 🚨🌍 | GOAL: WHAT A SENSATIONAL GOAL FROM ANIS HADJ MOUSSA! WOW!🇳🇱 Netherlands 0-1 Algeria 🇩🇿 pic.twitter.com/997fMfEUgG— TheGoalsZone (@TheGoalsZone) June 3, 2026 With this high-profile victory, the Fennec Foxes continue to prove they are in peak form heading into North America. During the March FIFA window, Algeria played out a scoreless draw against Uruguay before thrashing Guatemala 7–0. Remarkably, the team has suffered only a single defeat over the calendar year—a tight loss to Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals. The Algerian national team will fly to the United States in the coming hours to establish their final base camp. On June 10, they will close out their warm-up schedule with a friendly against Bolivia in Kansas City—the very same city where they will face the world champions less than a week later. Argentina’s Lionel Scaloni waiting on injured stars As the tournament opener draws closer, the result has certainly caught the attention of the Argentine camp. Lionel Scaloni is currently sweating over the fitness of his squad, as Lionel Messi headlines a list of six key players dealing with varying physical issues. In addition to Messi, including Emiliano “Dibu” Martinez, Nahuel Molina, Gonzalo Montiel, Nico Paz, and Leandro Paredes are all training away from the main group. The medical staff is working around the clock to ensure they can be fully integrated before the dynamic African side takes the pitch. Argentina’s Group J schedule 16/06 | Argentina vs. Argelia – Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City22/06 | Argentina vs. Austria – AT&T Stadium, Dallas27/06 | Argentina vs. Jordania – AT&T Stadium, Dallas
Former Barcelona defender Inigo Martinez has shared an extensive assessment of the current Barça project, backing Hansi Flick’s work, naming the players he believes should lead the dressing room an...
