Messi suffered a muscle injury in Inter Miami's 6-4 win over Philadelphia in MLS on 24/5. Initially, he trained separately upon joining the Argentina squad. The 38-year-old forward returned to full training earlier this week but was sidelined for yesterday's friendly against Honduras.

Lionel Messi warms up before Argentina's 2-0 friendly win over Honduras at Kyle Field, Texas, US on 6/6. *Photo: Reuters*.

Even without playing, Messi remained the most watched figure on the field. Every time his image appeared on the big screen at Kyle Field, the stands echoed with shouts of "Messi, Messi". This fan fervor highlighted the special appeal of the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner.

After the match, most Argentina players returned to the locker room. However, a large number of spectators remained in the Kyle Field stands. Despite security repeatedly asking them to leave, many insisted on staying, anticipating Messi's continued presence on the field.

Many spectators were surprised to see the Argentina captain continue training after the match. As coach Lionel Scaloni did not use him during the game, Messi had to complete a separate fitness regimen. Fitness expert Luis Martin designed this plan to balance Messi's workload with his teammates who had played.

Messi and teammates train after the match.

The training session included interval sprints. Besides Messi, the group of players who did not play, including Ignacio Ovando, Simon Escobar, and Nicolas Gonzalez, also participated. Additionally, some players who only played for a few minutes at the end of the match, such as: Joaquin Freitas, Tomas Aranda, Nicolas Capaldo, Santiago Beltran, and Jose Manuel Lopez, were present.

Under the watchful eyes of thousands of remaining spectators, Messi completed all exercises with high concentration. All cameras focused on the 38-year-old superstar, who continued to receive applause and cheers from the stands.

Honduras players greet Messi after the match.

In this match, despite Messi's absence, Argentina still defeated Honduras 2-0. Lautaro Martinez scored a penalty kick, and Giuliano Simeone, son of current Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone, contributed the other goal.

After the match, Scaloni expressed satisfaction with his players' performance, praising the team's fighting spirit. He also commended the young players who made their national team debut: Santiago Beltran, Tomas Aranda, and Joaquin Freitas.

The 48-year-old coach also stated that the coaching staff has not yet finalized a replacement for center-back Leonardo Balerdi, who was recently dropped from the World Cup 2026 squad due to a muscle injury. He also expressed concern about several other injuries, including: Gonzalo Montiel, Nahuel Molina, and Leandro Paredes. The coaching staff expects to make a final decision after the friendly match with Iceland on 9/6.

At World Cup 2026, Argentina is in a group with Algeria, Austria, and newcomer Jordan. Opta's supercomputer rates Argentina's chances of winning at 10,4%, ranking behind England (11,2%), France (13%), and Spain (16,1%).

Hong Duy (according to Ole, Infobae, TyC Sports)