Ananya Lohia , USA - Lionel Messi is all ready for his sixth World Cup. After having a injury and recovering from that muscle injury, the captain of the reigning world champions played 20 minutes and scored a penalty in Argentina's 3-0 victory over Iceland on this Tuesday in its final warm-up match before the start of World Cup 2026.
Lionel Messi marked his return from injury with a goal as Argentina defeated Iceland in a World Cup warm-up match. The Argentine captain had been recovering from muscle fatigue and a minor strain in his left hamstring suffered during his last appearance for Inter Miami on May 24 and began the match on the bench. Just days before his 39th birthday and his sixth FIFA World Cup appearance, Messi was introduced in the 70th minute. Two minutes later, he found the scoresheet after converting a penalty awarded when Lautaro Martínez was fouled inside the box. The Argentine superstar calmly dispatched a high left-footed strike in the 72nd minute, taking his international tally to 117 goals and further extending his record as Argentina's all-time leading scorer.
The match was only the second meeting between Argentina and Iceland. Their previous encounter came during the 2018 FIFA World Cup, which ended in a 1-1 draw after Messi missed a penalty.
Messi's successful return will be a major boost for Argentina as they prepare to defend their World Cup crown. The three-time world champions, who previously lifted the trophy in 1978, 1986 and 2022, will begin their 2026 World Cup campaign against Algeria on June 16 in Kansas City. Argentina have been placed in Group J alongside Algeria, Austria and Jordan and will hope their captain remains fit for another title challenge.
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