Lionel Messi Is 'Absolutely Ready' For Argentina, But The Full 90 Is Off The Table

Alright, Seattle sports fam, buckle UP! The World Cup just kicked off, and guess who’s got the latest scoop on GOAT status? Fabrizio Romano, the transfer guru, dropped some huge news on three Argentina stars. The biggest bomb: Lionel Messi is absolutely ready for their first group stage match this Tuesday night! He’s back from injury, you heard that right. But hold your horses, because while he’s set to play, there’s a massive catch for the 38-year-old superstar.

The GOAT's Game Plan Has A Catch

Yeah, it’s wild to think Messi is 38 now, out there repping Inter Miami. Romano pointed out his body isn't quite as robust as it was four years ago when Argentina hoisted the World Cup trophy. Messi just got back from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for weeks, a big deal for a brutal tournament. He's fully fit for Argentina’s opener against Algeria at Arrowhead Stadium. The kicker? He probably won’t play the full 90 minutes. Coach Lionel Scaloni is gonna have to be a chess master, managing Messi’s playing time to keep him healthy, especially given his recent injury.

Romano Spills The Tea On Argentina's Defense

Romano didn’t just stop at Messi. He gave us the lowdown on two other crucial pieces for Argentina: defender Cristian Romero and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. This is huge for their World Cup defense! Romano confirmed, "Good news for Argentina ahead of the World Cup as three crucial players are feeling better and are ready to arrive in the best shape." He specifically noted Martinez is "improving his condition," even though his future with seven interested clubs is "still open." Argentina is "optimistic about having him 100 per cent ready for the start of the World Cup," but keep an eye on his physical condition.

Then there's Romero, the fantastic World Cup winner at center-back. He’s "improving after the injury he suffered close to the end of the season with Tottenham." He's "getting better, and he will arrive ready for the World Cup," Romano assured us. For Messi, the update was equally positive: "Lionel Messi is back to training and available to play for Argentina after the injury he suffered with Inter Miami was not that serious. Lionel Messi will be absolutely ready for the start of the World Cup." Talk about a sigh of relief for Argentina fans!

Argentina is feeling confident heading into that Tuesday night clash against Algeria, especially with this update. Having Martinez, Romero, and Messi available from the jump is massive. But here’s the real challenge for Scaloni: managing these guys, especially Messi, for the long haul. They need all three of them to stay fit for the entire tournament if they want to defend their World Cup title. It's gonna be fascinating to see how Scaloni plays his hand. Can Messi defy age and a minutes restriction to lead them to glory again? We’re about to find out!

DFS Pick'em

🏆 Underdog Fantasy: Play $5, Get $50 in Bonus Entries

Use code ONTAP to lock in this offer.

👉 Claim your $50 bonus on Underdog Fantasy

Sponsored. Must be 18+. Terms apply.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.