Messi absent from friendly win over honduras due to muscle fatigue

Lionel Messi did not play in Argentina’s friendly against Honduras on Saturday night as he continued to manage muscle fatigue and a mild strain in his left hamstring ahead of the upcoming World Cup.

Messi, who will turn 39 in three weeks, participated in the pre-match warm-up with his teammates at Kyle Field on the campus of Texas A&M. However, he remained on the bench throughout the match, watching from the sidelines as Argentina secured a 2-0 victory.

Argentina has said Messi’s return will depend on his “clinical and functional progress.” The team is scheduled to face Iceland in Auburn, Alabama, on Tuesday in its final World Cup warm-up match before resuming training in Kansas City.

The defending champions will begin their World Cup campaign against Algeria at Arrowhead Stadium on June 16.

During a training session in Kansas City on Wednesday, Messi arrived on the practice field after the rest of the squad and carried out conditioning exercises separately.

Widely expected to retire from international football after this summer’s World Cup, Messi holds the record for the most World Cup appearances with 26 matches. He is also four goals away from surpassing Germany’s Miroslav Klose, who holds the tournament scoring record with 16 goals.