Lionel Messi is on course to appear for Argentina in at least one World Cup warm-up friendly after a recent hamstring scare, with head coach Lionel Scaloni confident that the captain will be ready for the title defence opener against Algeria on 16 June.

The Inter Miami forward came off in the club’s final MLS match before the World Cup break, holding the back of the left leg, yet medical checks have allowed Argentina to include Messi in the World Cup squad and plan his gradual return during the upcoming friendly window.

Scaloni explained that Messi is recovering faster than first feared and has already joined some group drills with the national team, raising hopes that the captain will gain match rhythm against Honduras or Iceland before facing Algeria in Argentina’s first World Cup fixture.

The head coach outlined Messi’s progress, saying: “Leo is doing well, Scaloni said. Leo trained for a part [of the Friday practice] with the group, which is important. He’s not fully separated. He’s coming along. He may be part of the friendly matches, getting some minutes in these two friendlies. We’ll see if it’s the one [on Saturday] or the next one. But he’s doing a lot better, and that gives us tranquillity.”

Argentina’s coaching staff view Messi’s involvement in at least one of the two friendlies, against Honduras on Saturday and Iceland three days later, as key preparation, while the broader squad arrives in camp after a strong March window that featured wins over Mauritania and Zambia.

Those March friendlies brought seven goals scored and only one conceded, supporting Scaloni’s view that the group remains settled before the World Cup challenge, where Messi holds the all-time competition record with 26 appearances, alongside 13 goals and eight assists.

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Messi’s influence during the 2022 World Cup triumph underlined that importance, as the captain contributed directly to 10 of Argentina’s 15 goals at the tournament, with seven goals and three assists helping secure the trophy that Argentina now aim to defend against a fresh field of challengers.

With Messi cleared to train partially and expected to test the hamstring during the Honduras or Iceland fixtures, Argentina approach the Algeria opener on 16 June with growing calm, believing that the all-time World Cup appearance leader will again guide the holders on the global stage.