Messi inspires Argentina victory over Iceland after injury scare, scoring on return as World Cup preparations receive a positive boost

Argentina national team captain Lionel Messi, under the supervision of head coach Lionel Scaloni, made a decisive return from an injury scare by scoring in a 3-0 victory over Iceland in a World Cup warm-up match on Tuesday.

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The match, played in front of a packed 88,000-capacity crowd, marked Argentina’s final preparation fixture ahead of their World Cup campaign and offered reassurance over Messi’s fitness following recent concerns.

Messi Argentina Iceland friendly became the focal point of attention after the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner was named on the bench, with Lionel Scaloni opting for a cautious approach following a muscle fatigue issue sustained during club duty with Inter Miami.

Argentine captain had been withdrawn during a 6-4 league win over Philadelphia on May 24, raising doubts about his availability for the tournament.

However, his second-half introduction in Alabama quickly shifted the mood.

Argentina had already taken control of the contest before Messi’s arrival, with Valentín Barco opening the scoring after Iceland failed to clear a dangerous goalmouth scramble.

Iceland themselves had earlier wasted a clear opportunity to take the lead, with Mikael Egill Ellertsson firing over from close range in the opening minutes.

Argentina’s dominance grew after the break, although Iceland goalkeeper Elias Ólafsson produced a notable stop when he saved Nicolás Paz’s effort with his face in a moment that briefly halted momentum.

Scaloni introduced several senior players at half-time, including Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister and Lautaro Martínez, as Argentina continued to apply pressure. Martínez was twice denied by the woodwork, missing chances to extend the lead.

The match reached its defining moment when Messi entered the field for the final 20 minutes, immediately influencing proceedings with his vision and composure.

His first contribution was a precise pass that released Martínez, who was brought down by Ólafsson after attempting to chip the ball. Moments later, Messi finished calmly to score his 117th international goal on his 199th appearance.

The Argentine captain then played a role in the third goal, linking with Rodrigo De Paul before Thiago Almada completed the move to seal the result.

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The performance delivered a strong and encouraging signal for Argentina ahead of their World Cup opener, with Messi showing sharpness, control and renewed confidence after his injury scare.