Argentina vs. Iceland: Will Lionel Messi play in the final friendly before the 2026 World Cup?

The Argentine national team is set to face Iceland on Tuesday, June 9, at 7:00 PM in Auburn, Alabama. This match marks the Albiceleste's final friendly before their debut in the 2026 World Cup. Argentina will compete in Group J alongside Algeria, Jordan, and Austria.

As defending champions, Argentina will begin their campaign on Tuesday, June 16, against Algeria in Kansas City. They will have one week to prepare for their title defense, aiming to replicate their 2022 victory over France. The 2026 World Cup holds particular significance as it is widely expected to be Lionel Messi's final tournament. For Argentinians, Messi symbolizes contemporary football, national resilience, and the captain who brought glory back to the nation in 2022.

Given Messi's status as a cultural and emotional icon of national unity, Argentina anticipates his optimal condition for the 2026 tournament. They hope to achieve what eluded them in the 1990 World Cup: a second consecutive title. The question of whether Messi will play against Iceland is a key point of interest.

According to Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni, captain Lionel Messi is likely to play some minutes against Iceland in Auburn, Alabama, in front of an estimated 87,000 spectators. Messi had been sidelined with a left hamstring strain since the May 24 match between Inter Miami and Philadelphia Union, causing him to miss the friendly against Honduras. He underwent a recovery program and began partial training with the team in early June.

Scaloni confirmed on Tuesday morning, June 9, that Messi would play against Iceland to complete his preparation. "Messi will play, but I don't know how many minutes. I will talk to him during training to avoid any risk. Nico Paz, Molina, and Montiel are also available to play. Julián Álvarez is fine; his ankle is improving day by day, so we are resting him to be 100%," Scaloni added.