Messi Trains Alone as Argentina Prepares for World Cup

The World Cup holders are back at work, and all eyes are on one man.

Lionel Messi trained away from the main group on Monday as Argentina began their preparations at base camp in the United States, easing their 38-year-old captain through the opening days of a long-awaited title defence.

The squad gathered in Kansas City, Missouri, for their first pre-tournament session, but while the bulk of Lionel Scaloni’s players moved through full-field drills, Messi stayed on a tailored program. He has been managing muscle fatigue in his left hamstring since May 24, a reminder that even the game’s enduring genius now has to listen to his body as much as his competitive instincts.

Argentina’s Football Association described the work as “specific exercises” on the pitch, carried out alongside several teammates also nursing fitness issues. Those players, the federation said, “continue to work with the physiotherapy team on specific exercises on the pitch and are making good progress.”

The message is clear: no panic, no shortcuts, just careful management.

Messi is expected to be ready for Argentina’s World Cup opener against Algeria on June 16, also in Kansas City. That date has been circled from the moment he felt the first warning signs in his hamstring. Every session until then is about balance — sharpening his rhythm without asking for trouble from a muscle that has already complained once.

Before that, Argentina, ranked number three in the world, will play their final tune-up match against Iceland on June 9 in Auburn, Alabama. It is likely to be the last chance to fine-tune combinations and fitness levels before the real scrutiny begins.

For Messi, this is another chapter in a career that long ago outgrew normal metrics. The Inter Miami captain, already a two-time MLS MVP and eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, is heading into a record sixth World Cup. No Argentine has worn the shirt more often: 198 caps since his debut in 2005. No one has scored more either, with 116 goals for his country.

So he worked apart, under a different rhythm, while his teammates went through the gears. Not a separation, but a reminder of his unique status and the care required to keep him on the pitch when it matters most.

Argentina know exactly what is at stake. Keeping their greatest player fit could define whether this defence of the crown becomes a celebration of an extended golden era, or the beginning of a search for what comes next.