FIFA World Cup 2026, Messi leads Argentina to 3-0 victory over Iceland

Just days before beginning their FIFA World Cup title defence, Argentina received the perfect boost as captain Lionel Messi marked his return from injury with a goal in a comfortable 3-0 victory over Iceland in their final warm-up match on Tuesday.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner had been a major fitness concern after suffering muscle fatigue during an Inter Miami match last month. However, Messi quickly silenced any doubts about his readiness for the World Cup with a brilliant cameo appearance that thrilled thousands of fans packed into the 88,000-capacity stadium in Auburn, Alabama.

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni opted for an experimental starting lineup, leaving several key stars, including Messi, Julian Alvarez, Enzo Fernandez and Alexis Mac Allister, on the bench.

Despite fielding a reshuffled side, the reigning world champions controlled much of the match. However, Iceland nearly shocked Argentina in the opening minutes when Mikael Egill Ellertsson missed a golden opportunity, blasting his effort over an open goal.

Argentina punished that miss shortly afterward. Following a chaotic scramble inside Iceland’s penalty area, defender Valentin Barco reacted quickest and fired a low shot into the corner to give his side an early lead.

The South Americans continued to create chances but were repeatedly denied by Iceland goalkeeper Elias Olafsson, who produced several important saves. Young midfielder Nico Paz came close to doubling the lead before halftime, only to see his powerful strike stopped dramatically by Olafsson.

Scaloni introduced several first-team regulars after the break, and Argentina’s attack immediately became more dangerous. Striker Lautaro Martinez twice struck the woodwork and looked destined to score before being denied by bad luck.

The moment fans had been waiting for finally arrived midway through the second half when Messi stepped onto the pitch. The stadium erupted as the football icon entered the game, and he wasted little time making an impact.

Within minutes, Messi produced a trademark pass that set up Martinez, who was fouled by the goalkeeper inside the penalty area. The veteran superstar calmly converted the resulting spot-kick, scoring his 117th international goal on his 199th appearance for Argentina.

Messi’s influence continued to grow as Iceland struggled to contain him. In the closing stages, he orchestrated another attack, feeding Rodrigo De Paul, who squared the ball for Thiago Almada to tap home Argentina’s third goal.

The convincing victory provides Argentina with valuable momentum ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, where they will begin their title defence against Algeria on June 16 before facing Austria and Jordan in Group J.

Most importantly for Argentina, Messi looked sharp, fit, and ready for another World Cup challenge, giving fans renewed hope that the legendary captain can once again inspire his nation on football’s biggest stage.