AI Summary
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni signals that Lionel Messi’s 2026 World Cup minutes will be limited to protect the star following recent fitness concerns at Inter Miami.
- •Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed a rotation strategy to manage Messi's physical load during the 2026 tournament.
- •The plan follows Messi’s recent injury concerns while playing for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.
- •Specifics on which matches Messi will miss or how many minutes he will be capped at remain unconfirmed by the coaching staff.
Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed that Lionel Messi will not play every minute of the upcoming 2026 World Cup. According to reports from World Soccer Talk, this strategy is a direct response to the forward’s recent injury struggles with Inter Miami. However, the team has not disclosed a specific threshold for his pitch time, leaving the exact nature of his participation subject to his ongoing fitness. Whether this reduced workload effectively preserves Messi for the knockout stages remains the primary question for Argentina's title defense.
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